Business in Picture

BALTICCONNECTOR IS OFFICIALLY COMMISSIONED

A couple of ships navigating through a beautiful island landscape in great weather – are you wondering why this snapshot is pictured here? As you probably already suspect, this is not a relaxing cruise: these ships are on the move for the purpose of energy supply. They are on their way within the context of the Balticconnector. The Balticconnector is a gas pipeline that connects Finland and Estonia and links the Finnish and Baltic gas markets, enabling their integration with the EU’s common energy market. It is already in use - the opening ceremony took place in December. The Balticconnector was also a topic discussed at the Baltic Gas Conference 2019 in Tallinn – read more on page 60. PH

CONTINENTAL OPENS ITS FIRST PLANT IN KAUNAS

It was a great day for Lithuania, it was a great day for Continental and it was also a great day for AHK and all three Baltic countries. Continental, a German manufacturer of technology and automotive components and AHK premium member, opened its first plant in Kaunas. This plant will produce sensors and processing platforms for highly automated driving. Overall, the location spans an initial 22,000 m 2 , including production, administration and warehousing facilities. The modular concept allows a further expansion of these components in the future, as required. The plant fulfils Industry 4.0 requirements. Continental’s investment in Kaunas will reach €95 million and create around 1,000 new jobs. It represents another large German investment in Lithuania. The HELLA electronics plant was also opened in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone in 2018. The President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda (from right) and Managing director Continental Automotive Lithuania Shayan Ali open the new plant in Kaunas. LM

BALTIC UNITY Latvian President Egils Levits played host to his counterparts from Estonia and Lithuania, Kersti Kaljulaid and Gitanas Nausėda, at Riga Castle on December 17. Following up on the recent NATO summit meeting in London, the three heads of states discussed security issues as well as the progress of joint regional projects such as the Rail Baltica railway project and the synchronization of the Baltic power grids. The presidential trio confirmed their resolution to promote a smooth and timely implementation of both infrastructure projects that share the goal to integrate the Baltic States in the European networks and should be completed in the mid2020es. Ahead of Christmas Baltic state leaders also lend their support to the annual ‘Dod Pieci’ (Gimme five) charity marathon by youth radio station Pieci.lv and visited the temporary glass studio at Dome Square – to select and get played a song on the air. AW