India-Lithuania Relations

• 27 Nov 2023

For Prelims: Klaipeda port, Baltic Countries, Sagarmala Project, India's ITEC program, Neighboring Countries of Lithuania.

For Mains: Major Aspects of India-Lithuania Relations.

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, Indian Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and Vice Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, convened in New Delhi to bolster the maritime bilateral relations between India and Lithuania.

What are the Major Highlights of the Meeting?

• Resident Mission Inauguration in Vilnius: The inauguration of India's Resident Mission in Vilnius was commended, highlighting it as a significant step affirming India's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Lithuania.
• Bilateral Trade Growth: India emphasized the positive trajectory of bilateral trade, citing a consistent increase to USD 472 million by the fiscal year 2022-23, signifying a steady rise in economic collaboration between the two nations.
• Collaboration on Port Infrastructure and Klaipeda Port's Advantages: Discussions centered on exploring collaboration opportunities, leveraging India's expertise in port infrastructure development.
  • This collaboration is aimed at capitalizing on Lithuania's strategic location as a gateway to vital industrial areas in Eastern Europe.
  • The spotlight was on the unique advantages of Klaipeda port, notably its year-round ice-free status.
    • As the leading Baltic port for container transshipment, it holds a pivotal position in facilitating trade, boasting advantageous land connections to key industrial zones in Eastern Europe.
• Diverse Investment Opportunities: India presented a spectrum of investment avenues to Lithuania across various sectors, including Port Modernization (PPP), Port Connectivity, Coastal Shipping, Maritime Technology, Sagarmala Project, and Decarbonization initiatives, aiming to foster comprehensive economic partnerships and sustainable growth.

What are the Major Aspects of India-Lithuania Relations?

• Historical Ties
  • Linguistic Similarities: Lithuanian and Sanskrit languages share linguistic commonalities, suggesting ancient connections.
    • Pre-Christian Lithuania worshiped nature and revered a trinity of gods - Perkunas, Patrimpas, and Pikuolis.
  • Intellectual Exchange: Vydunas, a 19th-century philosopher, drew parallels between Lithuanian and Hindu spiritual culture, creating a philosophical system inspired by Vedanta.
    • Lithuanian travelers like Antanas Poska and Matas Salcius delved into Sanskrit and Indian culture in the 1930s and 1940s.
    • Sanskrit became part of Vilnius University's academic curriculum in the 1970s, fostering academic ties between India and Lithuania.
• Political Relations:
  • Recognition: India acknowledged Lithuania's independence from the USSR in 1991, establishing diplomatic relations in 1992.
  • Embassy and Consulates: Lithuania opened its Embassy in New Delhi in 2008 and maintains three Honorary Consuls in India.
    • An Honorary Consul of India has operated in Vilnius since 2014.
  • India-Lithuania Forum: Initiated in 2010, fostering multi-dimensional ties encompassing culture, education, business, and science.
• Trade Dynamics:
  • Major Indian imports From Lithuania: Edible vegetables, wood and articles of wood, textiles, electrical machinery and equipment, iron and steel, optical, photographic and measuring instruments.
  • Major Indian Exports to Lithuania: Nuclear boilers and reactors, pharmaceutical products, fish, organic chemicals, tobacco and manufactured tobacco, textile articles, iron and steel.
• Cultural Engagement
  • Yoga and Spiritual Interests: Lithuanians exhibit keen interest in Indian cultural traditions, particularly Yoga. Celebrations of International Yoga Day are widespread in Lithuania.
  • Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme(ITEC) Program: Over 400 Lithuanian nominees attended various courses under India's ITEC program, fostering mutual learning and cooperation.