The average value of the projects intended to implement e-commerce solutions is almost EUR 46 000. On average, EUR 42 000 are expected to be invested in service and product configuration and visualisation projects.
“The activity of enterprises to attract investment for digitisation of their business shows that e-commerce solutions are really needed by Lithuanian companies. We have received over 750 project implementation plans from companies operating in 50 Lithuanian municipalities. It is encouraging that more than 75 per cent of the companies that responded to the call are seeking funding for the first time, and 80 per cent of the applicants were micro and small enterprises. This means that small businesses are looking to take advantage of the opportunities offered by e-commerce channels, and an increasing number of companies are looking to use EU investment for business development,” says Sigita Skrebė, Head of the Business Productivity Projects Division of the Innovation Agency.
65 per cent of all project implementation plans under the “Digitisation of SMEs” call were submitted by companies operating in Western and Central Lithuania and 35 per cent by companies operating in the Capital Region. Most of them are engaged in computer programming, construction of residential and non-residential buildings, and advertising.
Giedrė Rožytė-Jokūbavičienė, Head of E-Commerce of the Market Development Division of the Progress Department of the Innovation Agency, reveals that the Lithuanian e-commerce market is the largest in the Baltic States. In 2022, e-commerce sales of companies in Lithuania generated 18 per cent of their revenues, which is a higher figure than in Latvia and Estonia. Ireland, the e-commerce leader, generates around 33 per cent per year. E-commerce in Lithuania has been growing annually and by 2027, revenues from online sales of goods and services are expected to grow by almost 58 per cent.
“A modern, customer-friendly and professionally operated e-shop is becoming an indispensable sales channel for many businesses today. A well-developed e-shop opens the door not only to a local but also to a much larger foreign audience, provides a new impetus for business growth and buffers the turbulence of the local economy. Although e-commerce has developed rapidly in Lithuania in recent years, the potential in this area is still huge. EU investment can help to exploit this potential and at the same time give a new impetus to the development of small and medium-sized businesses,” says Ms Rožytė-Jokūbavičienė.
Ms Rožytė-Jokūbavičienė points out that 77 per cent of the companies that submitted project implementation proposals did not have e-commerce solutions in place, thus EU investment is a really important incentive for their development.
The “Digitisation of SMEs” call provides up to EUR 25 000 for the implementation of e-commerce solutions. The same maximum amount of funding is available for the configuration and visualisation of services and products. Up to EUR 50 000 are available for both activities. The minimum amount of funding available for a project is EUR 10 000.
The projects are funded by the Programme for the EU Funds’ Investments 2021–2027.
