Relations between Lithuania and Taiwan are difficult to measure in money, Lithuanian Seimas Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen told media in her country.
Lithuania’s export value to Taiwan in the first half of this year was 16.8 million euros (US$16.56 million), a 29.7 percent increase compared with the same period last year, Lithuanian National Television and Radio reported on Friday.
The majority of the exports were optical and chemical goods, while food and beverage products comprised 2.2 million euros, it said.
Photo: AFP
In the first six months of this year, Lithuania’s imports from Taiwan totaled 91.2 million euros, up 210 percent annually, it added.
Many Lithuanian food producers have criticized the “time-consuming process” and “strict regulations” Taipei imposes to grant export permits that would allow them to sell eggs, dairy products, fish and meat to Taiwan, the report said.
Cmilyte-Nielsen was quoted by the Lithuanian ELTA news agency as saying that the economic benefits brought by the country’s policies toward Taiwan are not clear at the moment, but it “does not mean that it has not brought political, diplomatic and other benefits.”
The relationship has a “huge impact on the security of the region, the future of our country,” she added.
She said she hopes that Lithuania and Taiwan continue to strengthen their relationship.
Ending dependency on autocratic regimes is a rational approach, she said, citing the example of the consequences to Europe for relying on Russia for so much of its energy.
Lithuania was not alone in distancing itself from China, she said, citing Latvia and Estonia following in withdrawing from the “17+1” group, Beijing’s initiative to form an economic bloc with central and eastern European countries.
Separately, the Baltic News Network reported on Saturday that Taiwanese officials arrived in Lithuania last week to inspect the factories of local meat producers that hope to export their products to Taiwan.
The Council of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, as well as the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, are scheduled to visit three meat producers during the two-week trip, it said.
More than 20 Lithuanian food producers are applying to export their products to Taiwan, it added.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS