EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Markets and Companies

Michael Schminke.

”We are deeply grateful to Michael Schminke for his commitment and personal dedication for the economic relations between Germany and the Baltic States”, outgoing President Dr. Gunter Dunkel (NORD/LB) acknowledged the outstanding dedication shown by the 51-year-old owner and CEO of Pantherwerke AG in Löhne. The German bicycle company has been active in Lithuania since 1993 with two affiliates in Šiauliai: Baltik Vairas UAB and Baltik Bicycle Trade UAB.

From the very first beginning of his activities in Lithuania, Michael Schminke has seen himself as a bridge builder between the Baltic States and Germany. In 1999, he was one of the founding members of the German-Lithuanian Trade Association and five years later strongly contributed to merging the institution with the German Delegate Office of Industry and Commerce in Lithuania.

Michael Schminke also actively promoted and supported the establishment of the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the officially founding which took place on 1 March 2004 in Berlin.

For the last six years, Michael Schminke was a member of the Board of the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania and also served as Treasurer of the entire German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (AHK). His membership in the Board ended on 26 March 2010 after six years of office.

The German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (AHK) is part of a network of 120 offices of the German Chambers of Commerce and now has a membership base of about 360 companies from the Baltic States and Germany spread across a broad range of sectors.