54 | AHK EVENTS
AHK EVENTS | 55
Photo: Lars Gutheil and Paul Aidan Perry
AHK World Conference Goes Digital Digitization was the magic word at this year’s AHK World Conference in Berlin. The German Chambers of Commerce Abroad’s network event, which took place from 14 to 16 May in Berlin, is intended to focus on future trends for the German economy. Baltic entrepreneurs and managers were amongst over 1,200 participants, presenting their activities and strengthening their connections to German partners. AHK’s CEO Florian Schröder presented Estonia’s road to e-Government and digital services. “Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are ahead of Germany when it comes to digitization”, he emphasized. “Germany’s industrial power and global market access can bring this Baltic strength to life. We will therefore work on even closer connections between both sides.” LBG
Summer 2018
Summer 2018
56 | AHK EVENTS
AHK EVENTS | 57
Photo: Mindaugas Mikulėnas
Adding Value: Industry 4.0 Conference Vilnius Lithuania has come a long way in terms of automation since the introduction of the yearly Industry 4.0 Conference Vilnius back in 2015. Meanwhile, the country has introduced its own national platform for Smart Manufacturing (Pramonė 4.0), which is coordinated by the Ministry of Economy. Virginijus Sinkevičius, Minister of Economy, was amongst the 260 participants of the Conference’s third edition on 17 May in Vilnius. Baltic and international experts discussed the latest trends and ways to succeed in the automation sector. The event at the Balttechnika Trade Fair was organized by the Lithuanian engineering industry association LINPRA, the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK) and the Information and Communication Technologies Association INFOBALT. LBG
Summer 2018
Summer 2018
58 | AHK EVENTS
AHK EVENTS | 59
Photo: Karen Voolaid/Tarmo Mutso, Oliver Killig, Volkswagen Presse, Porsche Leipzig
Saxony Presents The Future Of Mobility A test drive in a Porsche 911 Turbo and close insights into Volkswagen’s ultra-modern production facility “Gläserne Manufaktur” (Transparent Factory) were amongst the highlights of a trilateral delegation trip to Saxony in April 2018. Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian CEOs and managers delved deeper into what is going to happen in the fields of logistics, electric and autonomous driving in the future. The program included expert talks at the Porsche production site in Leipzig, as well as trips to Europe’s biggest airfreight hub of DHL in Dresden and the Volkswagen start-up incubator. Additionally, the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology in Dresden presented its latest research results on modern carbon materials. LBG
Summer 2018
Summer 2018
60 | AHK EVENTS
AHK EVENTS | 61
Diana Unt Photography
Estonia Remains A Hotspot For Investors 97% of investors and Estonian companies in the international network of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) are satisfied or even very satisfied with the economic situation in Estonia. More than half of them plan to invest more and to increase the number of employees. These optimistic figures determine the outcome of one of Europe’s largest economic surveys. The German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) asked their contacts in 21 Central European and Eastern European countries about their market perception. Almost 1700 participants voted Estonia third as an investment location, just behind the Czech Republic and Poland. Tarmo Mutso, Head of the AHK Office in Estonia, presented the Estonian results to the press and member companies on 22 May 2018. LBG
Summer 2018
62 | AHK EVENTS
AHK EVENTS | 63
Photo: Mindaugas Mikulenas
Hella Believes In Lithuania After announcing its €30 million investment in the Kaunas region some months ago, the German automotive part supplier Hella stressed its confidence in the new production plant during a business lunch in Vilnius in March 2018. “We strongly believe in Lithuania as a manufacturing hub for the future”, emphasized Michael Jarecki, CEO Lithuania of Hella AG, speaking to 60 guests at Kempinski Hotel. With its 38,000 employees at 125 locations, Hella is a giant amongst Lithuanian foreign investors. The Kaunas region has recently made headlines by attracting further international investors like German Continental and the American manufacturer Hollister. Hella hopes to finish the production facility by the beginning of the summer and commence production by August 2018. LBG
Summer 2018
Summer 2018
64 | AHK EVENTS
AHK EVENTS | 65
Photo: Kaspars Garda
Latvia Needs To Do Its Homework Although the general perception of international investors is positive, Latvia has lost some ground in comparison to neighbours Estonia and Lithuania. In 13 of 21 categories, Latvia scored worse than a year ago in the business survey of the German Chambers Abroad (AHK), an international network that examines the mood of investors in 21 Central and Eastern European countries every year (see pages 60 and 61 for Estonian results). Although Latvia takes the sixth spot, important factors like taxes, productivity and corruption got a weak evaluation – despite the recent tax reform. While investors in Estonia and Lithuania voted their own investment locations first in the survey, investors in Latvia placed the country only in the seventh place. Maris Balcuns, Head of the AHK Office in Latvia, presented the results on 19 April in Riga. LBG
Summer 2018
Summer 2018
66 | AHK EVENTS
AHK EVENTS | 67
Photo: Mindaugas Mikulėnas
German Wine-Growers Discover Baltic Markets Despite a much-discussed law on alcohol prevention, Lithuania saw the first ever joint stand of German wine-growers at this year’s Vino Dienos Wine Fair from 3 – 6 May 2018 in Vilnius. By meeting local retailers, sommeliers and gastronomers, the three participating vineries want to take steps into the Lithuanian market. Weingut Richard Böcking, Weingut Kronenhof and Weinland Königsbach-Neustadt represent three different German wine regions, some of which are already well-known in their home country. German wine already enjoys a 7% share of the Lithuanian market, but it still suffers in the higher price ranges. It is also strongly limited to Riesling grapes, while German vineries grow 140 different sorts of wine and make 40% of their turnover with native red wines. LBG
Summer 2018