Belarus, Lithuania, Markets and Companies

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 15:43

PM says no bad signals as yet from Lithuanian companies in Belarus amid strikes

BC, Vilnius, 18.08.2020.Print version
Lithuanian-owned businesses in Belarus, where workers of some large enterprises have gone on strike against longtime President Alexander Lukashenko, are not sending any bad signals, at least for now, but the situation is worrying, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said, cites LETA/BNS.

"We have no concrete signals yet, but any economic disturbance in the neighboring country may have an impact," Skvernelis told reporters, commenting on the potential economic impact of the ongoing protests in Belarus. "Belarus is a rather important economic partner".


"We haven't yet received any signals from Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways) and the seaport of Klaipeda, but we're watching the situation and it's really worrying," he added.


It was reported on Monday that Belaruskali workers were joining the strike action. The Belarusian potassium fertilizer producer exports its products via Klaipeda's Biriu Kroviniu Terminalas (Bulk Cargo Terminal, BKT). Its fertilizers are transported through Lithuania to the port by Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai.


The state railway operator also transports Belarusian refineries' oil products to Klaipeda where they are loaded onto ships by Klaipedos Nafta. 


Lithuania's embassy in Minsk has told LETA/BNS that about 600 Lithuanian-owned companies operate in the neighboring country.


The Lithuanian investors include the SBA Group, which owns large factories, and Vakaru Medienos Grupe (VMG), one of the largest wood processing and furniture production groups in the Baltics. 


Kauno Grudai, Eugesta, Audimas and other Lithuanian companies have operations in Belarus, too. 


Vidmantas Janulevicius, the president of the Lithuanian Industrialists' Confederation, has told that about 20 Lithuanian-owned companies have each invested over 5 mln to 10 mln euros in Belarus. 






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