French investors interested in doing business in Lithuania

Representatives of French companies Gaz de France, Electricite de France, Bull International, Bouyges Batiment, Connex Transport, Renault Agriculture, Dalkia, Thomson and banks BNP Paribas and Societe Generale who were on a two-day visit in Lithuania expressed interest in doing business in Lithuania. It is the largest group of French businessmen to come to Lithuania from the re-establishment of Lithuania’s independence in 1990. Dalkia, which has already established its position in Lithuania, would like to become the largest French investor in Lithuania and plans to invest about 15 million Litas (USD 3.8 mln). Lithuanian company Litesko, controlled by Dalkia, already leases city and regional heating supply companies, as well as modernises them. Connex Transport, servicing French railways and transporting passengers, is interested in the privatisation of the state-owned company Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways), and the IT company Bull International is willing to participate in projects related to tax administration and customs work. Electricite de France would like to take part in the privatisation of the electricity distribution grid, when the government decides to sell it, and in shutting down of the first unit of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Gaz de France, which has 12 million consumers, would like to acquire the state-owned gas utility Lietuvos Dujos (Lithuanian Gas). French direct investment in Lithuania makes up 96 million litas (USD 24 million)or one percent of all FDI. Lithuania's ten-month exports to France came to 575 million litas (USD 140 mln)and imports amounted to 773 million litas (USD 193 mln).