1. BIRŽAI REGION

2. Lithuania GDP growth – 2.9% [1] Inflation – 0.2% [1]
4th lowest profit taxes in the EU [2]
#1 for industry-university collaboration in the CEE region [3]
#2 most favourable country for investment in Europe and #16 in the World [4]
1st in the CEE for quality of roads [5]
Source 1: Ministry of Finance, 2014
Source 2: KPMG, 2014 / BNP Paribas European Office Market, 2014
Source 3: European Commission, 2013 / WEF Global Competitiveness Report
Source 4: Foreign Policy‘s Baseline Profitability Index 2014 / Centre of Registers, 2014
Source 5: FTTH Council, 2013 / WEF Global Competitiveness Report

3. Biržai region
Biržai municipality is situated in the North of Lithuania, in the county of Panevėžys.
Population –
Labour pool –
Source: Statistics Lithuania,

4. Effective transport network
Sea, land and air links to maximise business connectivity
Seaports
Roads
International Airports

5. Seaports
Klaipėda Seaport, Europe’s most northerly ice free port, is accessible from Biržai in three hours by road.
Cargo handled in 2014
Klaipėda – 36.4 m tons
Riga – 41 m tons
Source 1: Port of Klaipėda, 2014
Source 2: Freeport of Riga, 2014

6. Roads
Biržai is only 20 minutes by road from the Via Baltica highway, which connects Eastern Europe with Western Europe and Scandinavia.

7. International Airports
Biržai is conveniently located for accessing three major international airports.
Passengers carried in 2014:
Vilnius International Airport – 2,942,670[1]
Kaunas International Airport – 724,314[1]
Riga International Airport – 4,813,959[2]
Source 1: Lithuanian Airports, 2015
Source 2: Riga International Airport, 2015

8. Biržai has established competencies and companies with a proven track record in
Food processing
Textiles

9. Largest manufacturers
The biggest 8 companies employ 10% of the total working population
Siūlas
Textile manufacturing
EMP: 375
Biržų Duona
Food production
EMP: 346
Tyla
Manufacturer of wooden buildngs
EMP: 204
Agaras
Livestock
EMP: 200
Rinkuškiai
Brewery
EMP: 125
SLT Industrial Components
Plastic processing
EMP: 83
Nitator-SLT
Metal processing
EMP: 82
HOCHDORF Baltic Milk
Dairy products
EMP: 53
Source: Rekvizitai.lt, 2015

10. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
9,32 m EUR of FDI
57% growth in FDI in three years
FDI per capita 352 EUR (2013)
FDI in Biržai region
(mln EUR)
2010
2011
2012
2013
5,93
7,45
8,38
9,32
Source: Statistics Lithuania, 2013

11. Skilled workforce and attractive labour cost
14,900
Working-age people
74%
speak at least one
foreign language
62%
10%
Seeking employment
speak Russian
27%
speak English 4%
speak Latvian
Source 1: Statistics Lithuania,
Source 2: Lithuanian Labour Exchange, 2015

12. Attractive labour costs
Biržai boasts a pool of highly skilled and competitive professionals, making it a suitable location for sustainable business growth.
Monthly average gross salary (EUR)
Lithuania
Vilnius
Panevėžys
Biržai
677,4
797,6
632,5
537
Source: Statistics Lithuania, 2014

13. Qualifications and Competencies. Vocational education
Biržai Technology and Business Training Center
794 students
28% are studying engineering
Gives both young people and adults the opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge
Helps improve professional skills
Develops motivation and self-confidence
Source: Statistics Lithuania,

14. Talent pool close to Biržai
In 1 h you can reach:
Panevėžys
Total number of students studying engineering – 1,110
1 college, 2 vocational schools
Kaunas University of Technology Panevėžys Faculty of Technologies and Business [1]
The largest technical university in the Baltic States
Robotics laboratory
Industrial robots laboratory
Mobile robots laboratory
Panevėžys Mechatronics Centre[2]
Public non-profit organization, providing infrastructure services for scientific research, high-tech business and study.
3 laboratories (Industrial Mechatronics, micro/ nano and materials)
Various options for education, training and research
Source: Statistics Lithuania,

15. Business friendly environment
Ease of starting Business / World ranking – 11th [1]
Ease of doing business / World ranking – 24th [1]
Time for establishing a business – 3 days [2]
VAT – 21% [2]
Personal income tax – 15% [2]
Social security tax paid by employer – 30.98% [3]
15% corporate tax rate – 4th lowest corporate tax in EU [2,4]
Real Estate tax – 0,9 % [5]
Land lease tax for commercial areas – 3 % [5]
Source 1: Forbes, 2014
Source 2: State Tax Inspectorate Under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, 2014
Source 3: State Social Insurance Fund Board of the Republic of Lithuania under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour
Source 4: KPMG, 2014
Source 5: Biržai Region Municipality, 2015

16. A place to visit, enjoy, discover and invest in
Biržai is a historically important Lithuanian town surrounded by pristine nature and fascinating tourist attractions.
The centerpiece of the town is the Renaissance-Baroque style Biržai castle, a manor house originally constructed in 1589 and formerly home to the Radvila family, powerful nobles in the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth.
Today, Biržai has become famous thanks to its unique geological conditions, especially the natural sink holes and karst lakes.
Biržai is also home to one of Lithuania’s richest brewing traditions. With craft beer taking off in Lithuania, the region’s locally produced ales have gained a reputation for authenticity and excellence.

17. Testimonials SLT Industrial Components
SLT Industrial Components has operated in Biržai since the early 90’s. We produce assembled plastic, metal and rubber parts. We find Biržai and Lithuania to be a perfect place to have an advanced production facility. Quality is at world top level, delivery times to Europe is considerable less than from Asia and with rational manufacturing we can compete with Asian producers. We plan to develop our operation in Biržai and by that also have an even more positive impact on local community.
SLT Industrial Components
Managing Director
Anders Stenquist
Headcount:
150+
Est.:
1993

18. Department of Investment and City Development Biržai Region Municipality Administration
Daina Kolomakienė Tel: Mob:
Zita Marcinkevičiūtė Tel: Mob:
Vytauto str. 38 LT Biržai Lithuania
Partners: