USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON LITHUANIA

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction - FORCIBLY ANNEXED TO THE SOVIET UNION fifty-one years earlier, the Baltic states--Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania--regained independence in 1991 after an abortive coup in Moscow that accelerated the collapse of the Soviet regime. Having been, in the words of former British foreign secretary Douglas Hurd, "stolen or kidnapped from the European family," these nations embarked on a course of political and economic restructuring and reintegration with the West. Their experience with independent statehood and, to a lesser extent, with democracy in the 1920s and 1930s (an advantage not enjoyed by the other former Soviet republics), as well as their ability to maintain a strong sense of national identity under foreign hegemony, has helped them in their efforts to deal with the legacies of Soviet rule. The challenges, nonetheless, remain formidable.

B. Climate - The country's climate, which ranges between maritime and continental, is relatively mild. Average temperatures on the coast are 1.6°C in January and 17.8°C in July. In Vilnius the average temperatures are 2.1°C in January and 18.1°C in July. Average annual precipitation is 717 millimeters on the coast and 490 millimeters in the eastern part of the country. The growing season lasts 202 days in the western part of the country and 169 days in the eastern part or Temperate climate, but with considerable temperature variations. Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and autumn. Winter, which lasts from November to mid-March, can be very cold. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with the heaviest rainfall in August. Heavy snowfalls are common in the winter months.

C. Geographical Area - 25,174 sq mi (65,200 sq km)

D. Language - Lithuanian 82% (official), Russian 8%, Polish 6% (2001)

E. Currency With Exchange Rate. – Lithuanian Litas (LTL)

1 US Dollar = 2.53597 Lithuanian Litas

F. Population - 2006 est.): 3,585,906

G. Major Cities - Kaunas, Klaipéda,

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - total: 1,998 km (2002).

B. Road - total: 75,243 km; paved: 68,697 km; unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)

C. Airports - 87 (2002).

D. Waterways - 600 km perennially navigable

E. Sea ports - Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing:

B. Major Export - $10.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001).

C. Import- $13.33 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

E. Major Industry - metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry.

Agriculture: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish.

F. Trade balance

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Lithuania:

Major Trade Associations

Lithuanian Auto Entrepreneurs Association

Zadeikos g. 1b,

2035 Vilnius

Tel. +370 52301224

Fax. +370 52301225

E-mail: laa@aiva.lt

Website: www.laa.lt

Chambers of Commerce

A) Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts

J.Tumo-Vaižganto g. 9/1-63a, LT-01108 Vilnius, Lithuania

Tel.: +370 (5) 2612 102,

Fax: +370 (5) 2612 112

E-mail: info@chambers.lt

Website: www.chambers.lt

B) American Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania

Lukiskiu 5, Room 204

LT-01108, Vilnius, Lithuania

Tel.: (370 5) 261 11 81

E-mail: acc@acc.lt, acc@iti.lt

C) British Chamber of Commerce

Jogailos 4

LT-01116 Vilnius, Lithuania

E-mail: info@bccl.lt

Website: www.bccl.lt

Major Trade Shows

KLAIPEDA AUTOMOBILE EXHIBITION

Automobiles, Automobile Accessories and Services Cycle

City / Location - Klaipeda Exhibition Centre

every 2 years

Next Date -May 2008

5. Useful Links:

Lithuanian Importers, Dealers of Japanese Used Cars, Construction Machinery & Auto Parts.