Lithuania is important to Lithuanians worldwide
From 10 June, participants of the Bring Together Lithuania programme supported by the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation had a six-week visit in Lithuania. Young representatives of the Lithuanian diaspora had the opportunity to visit leading Lithuanian companies, organisations and start-ups, to meet Lithuanian politicians and to discuss career prospects.
“Participants are encouraged to continue their acquaintance with modern Lithuania, to interact with other Lithuanians from all over the world and to discuss career prospects in their home country. We are delighted to be part of this very important initiative, which gives young people the opportunity to make important career connections," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
Seventeen young Lithuanians from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil and Ireland participated in the programme this year.
During the visit, the youngsters met with President Gitanas Nausėda and First Lady Diana Nausėdienė, Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilyte-Nielsen, Members of the Seimas, Minister of the Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mantas Adomėnas, and representatives of the Global Lithuania Department.
Foreign Lithuanians also visited Lithuanian companies and organisations, including Invest Lithuania, Go Vilnius, International House Vilnius, MO Museum, Avia Solutions Group HQ, and Cyber City, where they met with representatives of Tesonet, Nord Security and SurfShark.
In Kaunas, the young people visited Kaunas FEZ, Elinta Group, UPS, Kaunas IN agency, and the Home of Basketball. In Klaipėda, they visited the Klaipėda FEZ, the Glassbel factory, Lighthouse Klaipėda, the Klaipėda ID agency and International House Klaipėda.
The foreign Lithuanians also travelled to the Dzūkija region, Merkinė and Trakai, where they met with representatives of tourism and entertainment businesses.
As of 2018, the Bring Together Lithuania has been initiated and sponsored by the Kazickas Family Foundation and supported by the Lithuanian Foundation established in the US. The Ministry of the Economy and Innovation has supported activities organised for interns in Lithuanian companies for the second year in a row, and in 2021, it allocated funds for the development of a model for the organisation of traineeships for foreign Lithuanian youth in Lithuanian companies.
The initiative is aimed at providing diaspora young people, who grew up abroad and are studying at universities, with the opportunity to make contacts, "try on" their country of origin, plan career opportunities and get to know modern Lithuania.