LogOn Baltic Regional reports 45:2007

Abstract

This report summarizes the findings of interviews conducted with 11 experts representing manufacturing and retail industries, logistics consultants and services providers, research institutions, as well as local authorities and support initiatives in Lithuania. At the first stage interviews were performed with the 21 expert but 10 experts for different reasons were eliminated from the final generalization. Expert interviews were conducted in the framework of the LogOn Baltic Project financed from the EU Interreg III B programme. Its aim is to present solutions to improve the interplay between logistics & ICT competence and spatial planning and strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). There are 10 regions and more than 30 partners involved in the project. Lithuania as a region is represented by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Interviews were based on a standardized questionnaire for all regions and covered five main topics: trends in relation to logistics and information and communication technologies, business connections in BSR, regional development, education and skills, and future outlook. The results of the interviews indicate that the two key trends affecting the logistics sector are globalization processes and Lithuania’s accession to the EU. Lithuania is well positioned to exploit its location for transit transport service development on the East – West and North – South axis; taking advantage of it is a matter of coordinated policy development and planning. Key problem issues in Lithuania are the inadequate quality of separate transport infrastructure network chains and nodes, and the somewhat obsolete system of education in logistics and related disciplines. Public and private sector players need to develop new forms and instruments for a mutually beneficial dialogue, as well as learning from experience of the “old” EU countries.

Tiek visuomeninio, tiek privataus verslo sektorių dalyviai (įmonės) privalo išplėtoti naujas, abipusiai naudingas, dialogų ir bendradarbiavimo formas bei metodus, tuo pat metu perimant senųjų Europos Sąjungos šalių pažangią patirtį.