1. Lithuania is currently the only Baltic state with a resident embassy in South Africa. What strategic importance does South Africa hold for Lithuania’s broader engagement with the African continent?
Fist of all, I would like to thank Embassy Direct for the opportunity to contribute to this issue.
To answer your question, South Africa holds a particularly important place in Lithuania’s broader engagement with the African continent. For Lithuania, South Africa is more than a partner—it is our gateway to Africa. Its dynamic economy, active role in the African Union and SADC, and its standing in global forums such as the G20 make it a natural focal point for engagement both regionally and globally. The opening of our embassy in Pretoria reflects a long-term commitment and enables us to build partnerships across Southern Africa that go beyond bilateral relations.
Despite the distance, our countries share a remarkable parallel. Both Lithuania and South Africa transformed within a single generation through openness, trade, and global integration. That experience taught us that lasting security and prosperity rest on respect for international law, sovereignty, and predictable cooperation—principles that remain the foundation of global stability and sustainable development.
Today, this lesson is even more relevant. Russia’s war against Ukraine affects Lithuania directly and challenges not only sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also the stability of the global order itself—a concern that resonates far beyond Europe, including across Africa. While our perspectives and responses may not always fully align, we deeply value South Africa’s constructive engagement, including its efforts to help return Ukrainian children affected by the conflict. Upholding a rules-based international order is essential for the stability and development of both large and small states.
Our relationship is also rooted in history. Lithuanian immigrants arrived in South Africa in the late 19th century, and a consulate was established in Cape Town in 1930. People of Lithuanian descent have contributed to South African society in many fields, including the struggle against apartheid, with figures such as Joe Slovo, Albie Sachs, and Helen Suzman.
Today, this relationship forms part of a broader strategic framework. As a member of the European Union, Lithuania sees South Africa as a key partner within the wider EU–South Africa relationship. Looking ahead to Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027, we see a clear opportunity to deepen engagement through practical initiatives, business cooperation, and shared priorities.
2. Bilateral trade between Lithuania and South Africa has grown steadily in recent years, yet remains heavily in Lithuania’s favour. How does your government assess this trade imbalance?
This is an important observation. Trade between our countries has been growing steadily, which is encouraging, but overall volumes remain modest—meaning there is still significant untapped potential.
At present, a large share of Lithuania’s exports to South Africa consists of traditional commodities such as grains. However, Lithuania today is a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy, shaped by EU integration, rapid digitalisation, and energy independence.
These transformations have positioned Lithuania strongly in fintech, cybersecurity, life sciences, photonics and laser technologies, and clean energy solutions.
We do not see this as an imbalance to correct, but as potential to unlock. It is an opportunity to broaden and diversify our economic relationship, particularly in high-value and innovation-driven sectors. In that sense, current trade flows are not a limitation—they are a starting point for deeper cooperation.
3. Which South African exports do you believe have the greatest potential to expand their presence in the Lithuanian market and the wider European Union?
South Africa has strong potential in agro-processing, specialised manufacturing, and critical minerals—sectors that are increasingly important for global supply chains and the green and digital transitions.
Thanks to the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement, over 98% of South African goods already enjoy duty-free access to the EU market, which provides a solid foundation for expansion.
We see strong potential for South African companies to integrate into Europe’s innovation and value-added manufacturing ecosystems, particularly through partnerships that go beyond trade and focus on joint development, technology, and investment.
The greatest opportunities lie in building forward-looking, high-value partnerships that are not merely transactional, but genuinely transformational.
4. What opportunities currently exist for South African investors and businesses seeking to enter or expand within the Lithuanian market?
Lithuania offers South African investors access to both the European market and a dynamic, highly competitive, innovation-driven economy.
Key advantages include direct access to over 400 million EU consumers, strong capabilities in high-value sectors such as fintech, life sciences, lasers, advanced manufacturing, and green technologies, as well as an agile, digitalised and business-friendly regulatory environment.
Lithuania’s strategic location and well-developed infrastructure connect Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, complemented by free economic zones that support international business operations.
Combined with a highly skilled workforce and strong institutional support, Lithuania provides an attractive platform for companies seeking to scale in Europe and integrate into global value chains.
5. What makes Lithuania an attractive destination for South African travellers?
Lithuania is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets—a place where the continent is experienced in its most authentic form, without crowds, without rush, and with a rare sense of space and calm.
At the heart of this experience is Vilnius, our capital—a UNESCO-listed Old Town and one of the largest preserved Baroque old towns in Europe. It is a highly walkable city where history and contemporary creativity exist side by side: centuries-old churches, hidden courtyards, modern art spaces, and a vibrant café culture all within a few steps of each other.
Nature is never far away—it defines Lithuania. The Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a unique landscape where towering sand dunes meet the Baltic Sea. Inland, forests, lakes, and national parks create a setting often described as the “land of a thousand lakes,” best experienced slowly and thoughtfully.
Lithuania also has a strong tradition of wellness and balanced living, from modern spa retreats to nature-inspired therapies rooted in our close relationship with the environment.
For more active travellers, Lithuania offers experiences that are unexpectedly dynamic for Northern Europe. Hot air balloons regularly fly over Vilnius, making it one of the few capitals in the world where this is part of everyday life. On the coast, kite surfing in places such as Svencelė has become a signature experience, attracting enthusiasts from across the region.
Culture plays a central role throughout the year. Lithuania’s calendar is rich with music, theatre, film, and contemporary arts. Seasonal traditions bring additional vibrancy: winter Christmas markets, the Vilnius Light Festival in January, the historic Kaziukas Fair in spring, and in May, Vilnius famously turns pink for the Šaltibarščiai Festival, celebrating our beloved cold beetroot soup with music, creativity, and a uniquely joyful atmosphere.
Beyond Vilnius, visitors can explore Kernavė, a UNESCO-listed archaeological site often referred to as the “Lithuanian Troy.” Across the country, a growing culinary scene combines local ingredients, seasonality, and modern Nordic-inspired cuisine.
Lithuania may be small, but it offers remarkable depth. It is a country best discovered slowly—through its landscapes, seasons, flavours, and people.
As the saying goes, it is better to see once than hear a hundred times—so I warmly invite everyone to come and experience Lithuania for themselves.
6. Could you share key highlights from your diplomatic career?
Throughout my diplomatic career, I have had the privilege of serving at a time when Lithuania was actively shaping its modern European identity. Working on European integration was not only a professional responsibility, but also a direct contribution to the country’s reforms, institution-building, and consolidation within the international community.
My postings in London, Madrid, and Beijing taught me the importance of listening, observing, and understanding different cultural and political perspectives. Later, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I focused on Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America—regions of growing importance for Lithuania—working to deepen engagement and identify new areas of cooperation.
My appointment as Ambassador of Lithuania to South Africa by President Gitanas Nausėda is both an honour and a deeply meaningful responsibility. It is my first ambassadorship, and I approach it with a strong sense of commitment. South Africa represents a region where history and geopolitics intersect in a particularly dynamic way, offering meaningful opportunities to connect, learn, and act.
7. Since assuming your role, what have been your most notable insights or surprises about South Africa and its place in global diplomacy?
Since assuming my role in South Africa, I have been particularly struck by the parallels between our countries. Both Lithuania and South Africa underwent democratic transformations in the early 1990s, emerging from long periods of oppression and facing the complex task of rebuilding institutions and embedding democratic values. This shared experience provides a strong foundation for mutual understanding, even when perspectives do not always fully align.
I also had the privilege of being in South Africa during its G20 presidency, and I would like to commend the country for the way it carried this responsibility. South Africa succeeded in bringing together an exceptionally diverse group of partners at a time of global fragmentation, while keeping key priorities such as solidarity, equality, and sustainable development firmly on the agenda. Chairing the G20 is never a routine exercise, yet South Africa approached it with confidence, consistency, and a clear sense of purpose, helping sustain dialogue across very different positions. It was a clear demonstration of its role as a credible and influential actor in global diplomacy.
At the same time, it highlighted how challenging it has become in today’s international environment to translate broad agreement into shared language and concrete outcomes, even when the willingness to cooperate is present.
On a more personal level, what stands out is the friendliness, resilience, and practical optimism of South Africans. There is a strong focus on finding solutions, supporting one another, and continuing to move forward despite challenges. This spirit is deeply rooted in the philosophy of Ubuntu—the belief in shared humanity and mutual care—and it leaves a lasting impression that I will carry with me.
8. Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Lithuania–South Africa relations over the next decade?
I see Lithuania and South Africa building a relationship that is increasingly strategic, diversified, and future-oriented.
Economically, there is strong potential in digitalization, renewable energy, and high-technology sectors. Institutionally, deeper cooperation between governments, businesses, and academic institutions will be essential. Equally important are people-to-people connections through education, tourism, and culture.
Ultimately, the goal is a visible, practical, and ambitious partnership—rooted in innovation, trade, and trust, and shaping a shared future.
