New Minister of the Economy and Innovation Lukas Savickas takes office
Lukas Savickas, Member of the Seimas, took office today as the new Minister of the Economy and Innovation. He succeeded Aušrinė Armonaitė, who headed the ministry for four years.
“I am grateful to the outgoing Minister Aušrinė Armonaitė for her significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Lithuanian economy and for the continuity of her work. I am pleased to see that the work started earlier, such as the legislation on the green investment corridor and the innovation reform, has achieved some of the expected results,” said L. Savickas.
The new Minister of the Economy and Innovation has identified five strategic directions for his ministry: a more level playing field for business, a shift in the economy towards higher value-added products and services, dialogue with the business community and less red tape for business, balanced regional development and an inclusive economy, and support for the tourism sector.
“Businesses and the public have high expectations of the new Government and the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation. Our team will focus on five key strategic directions. Together, in dialogue with business representatives and the public, we will work to strengthen and accelerate the Lithuanian economy. This will be felt not only by businesses, through reduced burden of bureaucracy and incentives, but also by the public, through higher wages, more funds for the state budget and redistribution of funds,” says L. Savickas, the new Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
L. Savickas’ team will include four vice-ministers, a chancellor, and advisers. According to the Minister, the team has already been built. Following statutory checks, the full policy team will start work shortly.
A detailed programme of planned work, including specific projects and estimated timeframes, will be presented to business and the public early next year.
“The objectives and specific work will have their own implementers, a clear timeframe and, most importantly, measurable results to be achieved. We will regularly inform the business community and the public about the work done and planned,” says L. Savickas.
L. Savickas has experience in both the public and private sectors. Before becoming a minister, he worked in the Seimas for the Committee on Economics and the Committee on European Affairs, and was Deputy Chair of the Committee for the Future. In 2019 and 2020, L. Savickas was a member of Vilnius City Council and advisor to the then Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis on economic and strategic change management, and later served as Deputy Chancellor of the Government. Prior to that, he held senior positions in Investors’ Forum and Invest Lithuania.
The new minister has also been involved in various international and public initiatives — he was a member of the State Progress Council, a member of the training programme of the Atlantic Council Millennium Fellowship Leadership, president and co-founder of the Young Professionals Programme Alumni Association, and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers and other initiatives.
L. Savickas holds a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of York in the UK and a degree in European Public Affairs from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.