Taiwan's billion-dollar promise to Lithuania has turned into crumbs, and the future of Klaipėda Port has been sacrificed to the dubious political career of the Landsbergis family

 

 

Without the flow of goods from the world's factory, China and to China, Klaipėda Port is losing the opportunity to achieve its main value in the market. Chinese transit has already decreased due to this political tension.

 

"Business missed the investments promised by Taiwan in Lithuania. It is estimated that over 3.5 years, out of the agreed 1 billion, the Taiwanese have invested only 16 million euros. This means that Lithuania has ruined relations with China because of the Taiwanese representation, and has received almost nothing in return.

 

"Unfortunately, it must be stated that so far these investments are extremely small, even if we compare them with other countries in the region where Taiwan is investing," commented Andrius Romanovskis, President of the Lithuanian Business Confederation.

 

Taiwan promised to invest more than 1 billion in Lithuania. Moreover, it seems that Taiwan no longer has any big plans for Lithuania.

 

“As a result, we have only 25 million euros in loans and even less than 20 million in venture capital investments,” explained A. Romanovskis.

 

It is estimated that out of the promised 1 billion, Taiwan has invested in Lithuania in one medical, laser and financial technology company over 3.5 years, which is about 16 million.

 

“When it comes to investments, funds and cooperation with Taiwan, there were higher expectations,” said former Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen.

 

Unofficially, the investments were considered a thank you for opening a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius, which ruined relations between Lithuania and China.

 

“Of course, the result could have been higher and can still be higher, because many projects can be implemented in the future. True, we should make an effort,” said Conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas.

 

Taiwan has established funds, but investments are not moving either to the conservatives or to the current Social Democratic government.

 

Investing 1 billion was promised only in Lithuania, but Taiwan established the fund for the entire Central and Eastern European region.

 

The former Speaker of the Seimas, who herself negotiated investments in Taiwan, now considers economic benefits to be secondary.

 

“These are benefits of security, defense and cooperation with democracies, which cannot be measured in euros,” V. Čmilytė-Nielsen assured.

 

According to the Lithuanian Business Confederation, Slovakia received the most investments from Taiwan in Europe.

 

Both values ​​and mutual benefits are very important for maintaining our relations.

 

It seems that the previous government did not have a plan for what would happen next and hoped that business would take over the baton. True, business itself asked politicians for leadership.

 

“A reminder, showing that both values ​​and mutual benefit are very important for maintaining our relations,” said A. Romanovskis.

 

True, Lithuania is currently looking for ways to improve relations with China. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, for her part, said that Lithuania jumped the gun by opening a representative office in the name of Taiwan.

 

“It was a hasty step to separate itself from the context, knowing that the name would have certain consequences. Which, I think, we could fix,” the politician did not hide.

 

In exchange for warmer relations, the Chinese are demanding a change of direction regarding Taiwan.

 

In addition, the Prime Minister hinted that she would not see a problem in renaming the Taiwanese representative office in the name of Taipei. True, the President explained that the name could only be changed with the approval of Taiwan itself.”