E. Grikšas will seek to attract capital for Lithuanian businesses and strengthen technological partnerships in London
Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation, is on a working visit to London, where he will meet with United Kingdom ministers, investors, and business representatives to discuss opportunities to attract investment to Lithuania, increase exports by Lithuanian companies, and develop joint projects in smart manufacturing, defense, and space technology. The visit will also include discussions on the priorities of Lithuania’s presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in 2027 and closer economic ties between the EU and the United Kingdom.
“Lithuania is increasingly establishing itself as a world-class developer and manufacturer of technology. For our companies to grow at an ever-faster pace, we need access to capital, strong industrial partners, and new export opportunities. Therefore, in the United Kingdom, we are seeking to develop partnerships that would help Lithuanian businesses attract financing, integrate into supply chains, and jointly create advanced technological solutions,” says Minister of Economy and Innovation E. Grikšas.
According to the minister, Lithuania’s technological potential is also evidenced by its latest achievements: the LITILIT femtosecond laser factory – the world’s largest in terms of potential production capacity – was recently opened in Vilnius, and an agreement has been reached to strengthen cooperation with an Italian space technology company. Lithuania’s appeal to international business is also demonstrated by projects announced this year by UK companies – the establishment of a Checkout.com technology center in Vilnius and the expansion of OAG’s technology and data teams in Vilnius and Kaunas.
E. Grikšas also emphasizes that Lithuania’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU will provide an opportunity to strengthen economic ties between the EU and the United Kingdom and to seek joint solutions for enhancing Europe’s competitiveness.
One of the highlights of the visit will be a closed-door roundtable discussion with private investors and venture capital representatives at the Lithuanian Embassy in London. The discussion will focus on how to improve access to capital for growing Lithuanian companies, particularly in later stages of development, and what conditions would encourage international funds to invest more actively in Lithuania.
The topic of investment will continue at the “Vilnius Founders in London” event, which will bring together Lithuanian startups, UK investors, and business representatives. The event will feature presentations on technologies developed by Lithuanian startups, discussions on opportunities for their international expansion and attracting investment, as well as the prospects for defense technologies.
In London, Minister E. Grikšas will meet with Lord Anas Sarwar, the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Trade, to discuss the expansion of Lithuanian exports to the United Kingdom market, attracting investment, cooperation in smart manufacturing and the defense industry, as well as issues of economic security and supply chain resilience.
During the visit, E. Grikšas will also meet with representatives of “Make UK Defence,” the UK defense industry association. The meeting will focus on opportunities for Lithuanian manufacturers to join UK defense industry supply chains, establish ties with British companies, and implement joint manufacturing and technology projects. Discussions will also focus on concrete steps toward cooperation – including company visits, business missions, and the search for potential suppliers and partners in Lithuania.
Discussions with Elizabeth Ann Lloyd, the United Kingdom’s Minister for Space, Cybersecurity, and Regulatory Reform, and representatives of the UK Space Agency will focus on practical opportunities for cooperation between Lithuania and the United Kingdom, the EU Space Act currently under development, and the European Competitiveness Fund.
On October 22, Minister E. Grikšas will present Lithuania’s economic and business opportunities at the “Business Forum Lithuania–UK 2026.” The event aims to strengthen business ties between the two countries, promote exports, and foster new partnerships.
The United Kingdom is the eighth-largest market for Lithuanian goods exports and the fourth-largest market for services exports. Exports of goods to the UK reached 1.56 billion euros in 2025, an increase of 5.5 percent year-over-year, while exports of services totaled 1.72 billion euros, an increase of 18 percent compared to 2024.
Last updated: 21-10-2026
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