"The latest research by the Investors' Forum showed that investors' opinion about the business environment in Lithuania is gradually improving. It is a positive evaluation of our Government's efforts. The Government has made numerous decisions that positively affect business conditions. The Law on Territorial Planning has been adopted, the Lithuanian Innovation Development Programme as well as the Investment Promotion and Industrial Development Programme have been approved, state aid and supervision of companies in the Free Economic Zones have been regulated more clearly. There is a proposal to replace 45 types of licenses with declarations, a less restrictive measure for businesses. Procedures for issuing 160 types of licenses have been simplified," said Prime Minister A. Butkevičius.
According to the Head of Government, an important decision has been made: state institutions and enterprises must apply the proposal evaluation criteria of the greatest economic benefit to no less than 20 percent of all simplified public tenders, and beginning with 2015 – to no less 30 percent.
"Our current objective is to ensure that only honest tax paying suppliers can enter public tenders, so that persons responsible for the bankruptcy of the company are prevented from participating in tenders. Therefore, we shall put forward an amendment stating that persons with unfulfilled financial liabilities (social security contributions and tax) of 50 euros and larger are prohibited from participating in public tenders; also, that the contracting authority is able to reject the offer if in the course of the last three years the supplier has failed to fulfil the contract of fulfilled it improperly," explained the Prime Minister.
The increasing trust of businesses was not affected even by the unstable situation in Eastern Europe, because of the prompt Government reaction and concrete actions it took to absorb the losses of Lithuanian businesses. The Government cooperated with businesses and opened gates to new markets: Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia (fish products), Lebanon (beef and fish) and Serbia (pork). The Law on Ritual Slaughter, important in Arab countries, has been adopted. After the prime Minister's visit to the United States, Lithuanian meat control system is now viewed favourably and the opening of the market is awaited.
According to Prime Minister A. Butkevičius, the research by the Investors' Forum also pointed out areas where the Government should put in some more effort, the retraining of workers being one of them. "Investors emphasized that changes in the Lithuanian education system are needed, because it is not in line with market demand. This summer I have assigned the Ministries of Economy, Education and Science, and Social Security and Labour to address this issue. They should intensify their efforts in this area so that we promptly receive proposal on how to retrain the people who do not satisfy market demand and how to improve vocational training. I am expecting to receive an action plan in the nearest future," said the Head of Government.
