Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Logistics, Transport, USA

"Lithuania plays an important role in the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) consisting of an almost 5,000 kilometre-long network of sea, road, and rail routes going through the Baltic States, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and terminating in Northern Afghanistan. Lithuania's experience gained in transporting ISAF cargo can help to make a lodgement in transport corridor going towards Asia and provide new opportunities," said Deputy Minister Arijandas Sliupas.

According to the deputy minister, transport and logistics industry accounts for 13.1% of country's GDP. In addition, Lithuanian railways provide one of the best routes connecting Europe with the CIS and Asian markets.

Two routes of the international Trans-European transport corridors cross the territory of Lithuania. Two different networks – wide gauge (1520 mm) and narrow gauge (1435 mm) interoperate in the country ensuring technical interoperability between the railway systems of the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and the third states (the CIS). Here, the railway system forms a connection to the port of Klaipeda and can provide cargo transportation services to Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Ukraine and Asia (including China).

Lithuanian truck fleet counts more than 25,000 vehicles. The logistics and warehousing facilities are well-developed as well: Vilnius and Kaunas intermodal terminals, which are located in strategic places, started to operate this year; an ice-free seaport of Klaipeda is a bridge joining the CIS, Asian, EU and other markets; flights to major European cities and Moscow take around 2-3 hours. Finally, the industrial parks located in Special Economic Zones of the total of 3,700 acres, are prepared for business use and have all the necessary infrastructure.