May 12 2010, no 295

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Highlights from this issue:

TOP STORIES
- More Nordic firms are relocating production to Lithuania in a bid to gain price advantage through lower costs. news2biz talks to Danish Vitral and Norwegian Devold AMT (pages 2 & 5). 
- US IBM signs a letter of intent with the Lithuanian government to establish a joint research centre focusing on nanotechnologies, life sciences, and health-care innovations (page 9).
- Optimism returns to the retail trade sector as trade statistics keep improving by the month and retailers are preparing for expansion (page 7).

MANUFACTURING
- Runaway producer price inflation conceals local price deflation.
- Scandpark industrial park expands, welcomes window maker.
- Finnish Inspecta industrial assessment firm arrives, eyes N-plant project.

FINANCE
- Banks in the red in Q1 but crediting trends turn positive.
- Baltic insolvencies up by 49-69% in 2009.
- Fewer asset seizures in April.
 
FOOD & AGRICULTURE
- Linas Agro diversifies biofuel position.
- Maxima owners eye Polish confectionery firm Mieszko.
 
PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION
- International investors aim at listed Baltic property firm.
- Klaipeda mulls cutting land lease rates.
- DIY sales shrink further.

RETAIL & SERVICE
- New Yorker fashion retailer to launch flagship store in Vilnius.
- Crisis dents Gedimino retail image but retailer interest rises.
- Norwegian Choice ready to create Baltic hotel chain.

IT & MEDIA
- Finnish Itella sees Vilnius as Baltic invoice scanning hub.
- Polish IT distribution leader ABC Data to cover Lithuania online.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
- Lower port dues, new conditions attract new ro-ro lines to Klaipeda.
- Service firms go low-cost to tap low-budget market.
 
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
- Swedish Malmberg wins two waste water treatment plant projects.
- Finnish Fortum offers Kaunas 90 MW green CHP plant project.
- Polish Lotos nears Geonafta deal, mulls sea exploration.
- Diesel excise to rise in 2011.
 
ECONOMY & POLITICS
- Govn't promises to ease regulatory burden.
- Oil and plastic products reignite trade flows in Q1.
- Expensive fuel brings back inflation in April.

EVENTS
- BCCL visit to Kaunas FEZ, 14 May.
- Norwegians celebrate National Day, 17 May.
- Securing creditor interests, 18 May.
- Lunch with investment and export promotion VIPs, 18 May.
- Business mission to UK, 18-21 May.
- American school Open House, 19 May.
- Exporting to Scandinavia, seminar, 19 May.
- Hiring & firing regulations, presentation, 19 May.
- Business trip to Belarus, 27-28 May.

KEY FIGURES
- Wages, real earnings, trade, inflation, interest rates, retail trade, industrial output, GDP, key economic data forecast 2009-2011, etc. 

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