This investment will promote the certification and presentation of high value-added products and services of SMEs in foreign markets.
“Lithuania aims to increase the export of high value-added products and services to export and innovation markets relevant to Lithuania. One of the ways for businesses to enter these markets more easily is by obtaining the necessary certificates and presenting their high value-added products at international exhibitions abroad. Therefore, funding under this measure will benefit both businesses by increasing their competitiveness and Lithuania as a country by further boosting its growing exports, which amounted to EUR 10.1 billion in the first quarter of this year and grew by 2.8 per cent,” says Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
It should be noted that exports of goods of Lithuanian origin amounted to EUR 6 billion in the first quarter of this year, while exports of services reached EUR 4.2 billion. According to the Bank of Lithuania, exports of services in the first quarter of 2023 were 14.3 per cent higher than in the first quarter of 2022.
“Growing exports show that we are on the right track with funding from measures such as “Expo opportunities for the advanced”. These funds will not only help SMEs in the Capital Region to maintain their existing trading positions, but will also allow them to enter new markets more easily and firmly. This will also contribute to the growth of Lithuania’s GDP,” says Iveta Paludnevičiūtė, Chancellor of the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation.
The selection of projects under the “Expo opportunities for the advanced” call will be carried out through a one-stage tendering procedure. Eligible applicants are SMEs. Project partners are not possible under this measure.
The maximum amount of funding available for a project is EUR 150 000 and the minimum is EUR 15 000.
Project implementation plans can be submitted to the Public Institution Innovation Agency by 6 November 2023.
The full terms of the call are available on the European Union investment website.
To strengthen the Lithuanian economy, the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation will launch calls for funded activities totalling almost EUR 1 billion by the end of 2023. Around EUR 365 million has been earmarked for business, innovation and investment, EUR 320 million for the digitisation of the state and business, and EUR 268 million for the greener economy.
The “Expo opportunities for the advanced” measure is implemented within the framework of the Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments 2021–2027.
