"Germany is not only the largest investor in our country, but also the economic engine of the European Union. The volume of trade with Germany is growing every year, so it is particularly important for Lithuania to have an effective representation in this country, which is also a priority export market for Lithuania. Our businesses need to find new opportunities to market their products and services. Until recently, we had one commercial attaché in Germany, and now, in line with the increased needs of business, we will have three attachés. This will significantly strengthen Lithuania's position to attract more investment and to implement more joint projects creating jobs and added value," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
A.Šarka has been working with German and other German-speaking investors since 1993. He was a founding member of the German-Lithuanian Economic Association, and since 2004 has been a member of the Regional Board of the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. He has also been a trustee of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lithuania since 1995. Mr Šarka, who holds the position of Vice President of the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, holds a Master's degree in Law from Vilnius University and has practiced law in Germany.
"It has never been easy to work with German investors as clients - it is not without reason that it is said that a German company checks 9 times, but once it has made a decision to do something, no one will talk it out of it, and it will come back for a long time. I hope that my 21 years of experience working with German-speaking investors will be of benefit to our country. I am very pleased that our commercial attaché in Germany has grown in number and I am confident in the future team's ability to deliver on the tasks we have been given," said Mr Šarka.
According to the data of the Lithuanian Statistics Department, in 2021, Germany ranked 2nd among Lithuania's 207 trading partners in terms of trade turnover, 3rd in terms of exports, 1st in terms of exports of goods of Lithuanian origin and 1st in terms of imports.
Germany is also the largest investor in Lithuania, with foreign direct investment of around EUR 5.6 billion.
Ministry of the Economy and Innovation is currently conducting selection and recruitment procedures for the position of Commercial Attaché of the Republic of Lithuania in Japan, the United States, Germany and Poland. The new attachés will strengthen Lithuania's economic representation globally and in the strategically important markets of the USA and Germany, where 3 commercial attachés will be based.
Lithuania currently has Commercial Attachés in the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Ukraine and South Korea. By 2024, the number of Commercial Attachés will be increased to 23.
