Investors’ Forum News

The global economy grew by just over 3 per cent last year, almost ½ percentage point less than we predicted at the beginning of the year. Growth in the USA, the Eurozone, India and Russia, among others, was disappointing. Meanwhile, economic growth in countries like the UK and Japan exceeded our expectations. The disappointments are mostly history. In the second half of last year, growth in both the industrial and emerging economies rose to 2 and just over 5 per cent, respectively, which we believe to be “cruising speed”. 

Even though the evaluations of foreign investors in Lithuania towards the economy are not as positive as in the previous quarter, the overall business and macroeconomic expectations are favourable.

Global Competitiveness Report of World Economic Forum can be viewed and downloaded from here.

A member of Investors’ Forum – an association of the largest investors in Lithuanian economy – and a major investor in Lithuania, Philip Morris International has announced plans to implement a new EUR 40 million investment project in Klaipėda this year. Since 1994, the company has invested over 200 million euros in Lithuania. The Investors’ Forum is pleased with the consistent growth in foreign direct investment in the Lithuanian economy and urges the government to focus on improving the business climate in order to attract more investment of this kind.

Investor Confidence Index for Lithuania (ICIL) survey indicates increasing investor confidence in Lithuanian business environment. The upward trend has remain solid throughout the year and the overall index value reached 1.181 (out of maximum value of 2) in the last quarter of 2014. The positive expectations came through even despite the unpredictable geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe.

The 2012 edition of the European Competitiveness Report provides new empirical evidence for understanding the drivers of industrial competitiveness and the opportunities and constraints faced by European enterprises in the post-crisis recession. You can download the full report here.