Seimas created favorable conditions for large local and Western manufacturers, including the German military industry giant Rheinmetall, which intends to build a factory in Lithuania, to build factories faster and easier.
Defense industry projects will be subject to special conditions that allow them to start operations faster - investors will be able to complete environmental impact assessment procedures and obtain construction permits before the end of construction.
On Tuesday, 118 members of the Seimas voted for such amendments to the Investment Law, four were against and one abstained.
The Seimas adopted the amendments to the accompanying Land, Territorial Planning and Construction Laws.
Minister of Economy and Innovation Dawn Armonaitė emphasized that the same conditions will be applied to Lithuanian investors. According to her, quick state decisions are often more important to them than financial support.
"Sometimes more than any subsidies, state loans or guarantees, other financial instruments are more important for investors, the fast-moving state apparatus, small bureaucracy, digitized solutions," said A. Armonaitė.
According to her, bureaucratic procedures are "made shorter and friendlier" by law.
"And we make Lithuania, perhaps, the friendliest in Europe for large investments in the field of defense and security," added the minister.
"Valstietis" Valius Ažuolas regretted that not all investors are provided with such favorable conditions.
At that time, Kazys Starkevičius, chairman of the Economic Committee, stated that such amendments show that Lithuania favors investments not only in the military industry, but also in other areas.
Facilitation will also apply to other large-scale projects that ensure the immediate needs of the state's security and defense.
A week ago, representatives of the Government and "Rheinmetall" in Vilnius signed a letter of intent regarding the construction of a 155 mm artillery ammunition factory in Lithuania and are starting negotiations on an investment contract.
The author is Sniegė Balčiūnaitė
