The First Deputy Chancellor of the Government has pointed out Japan’s importance as one of Lithuania’s key partners in Asia, with the 10-fold increase in trade volumes over the last decade (from 38.82 million euros in 2010 to 355.2 million euros in 2018). He has also noted the shared approach to the values and global issues. There has been progress in the work commenced following Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis’s visit to Japan a year ago and the historic visit to Lithuania by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It is believed that the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force this year, will help expand the bilateral trade and thus benefit both EU and Japanese manufacturers and consumers.
Science partnership between Lithuania and Japan has earned a particular attention. According to Deividas Matulionis, Japan is among Lithuania’s key partners in science, technology and innovation.
‘We will continue to work closely together to promote joint initiatives to step up the development of science and technology, and to intensify inter-industry cooperation with a view to addressing the most pressing issues of human progress and prosperity’, said the First Deputy Chancellor of the Government.
The Vice-chancellor has expressed appreciation for the cooperation as regards the exchange in delegations in life sciences conferences BioJapan in Japan and Life Sciences Baltics in Vilnius. The President and the members of the Association have been invited to the 2020 Life Sciences Baltics Forum to be held between 30 September and 1 October next year in Vilnius. There are no doubts that the participation in BioJapan and Life Sciences Baltics exhibitions will contribute to closer bilateral cooperation in life sciences.
Lithuania’s life science sector has shown around 19% regular annual growth, and the manufacture and research in biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical devices have been particularly noteworthy. Many products developed in Lithuania target international markets, 90% of all life sciences products and services are exported worldwide.
