Taiwan, Lithuania Sign MOU on Lasers 立陶宛經創部次長再訪台 簽署雷射MOU

Lithuanian Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation Karolis Zemaitis is currently in the midst of his second visit to Taiwan. He signed a memorandum of understanding on laser technology cooperation between Lithuania and Taiwan on Feb. 20 and attended a meeting on investment opportunities in Lithuania on the 21st.

Lithuanian Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation Karolis Zemaitis recently arrived in Taiwan as the head of a business delegation. This was his second visit to Taiwan. On Feb. 21, he attended an informational meeting on investment opportunities in Lithuania. The purpose was to match business opportunities between Taiwan and Lithuania and their companies.

Karolis Zemaitis, Lithuanian Vice Minister of Economy & Innovation: “We are friends, we are partners, and we already started doing business. The growth is increasing and now it is time for us to accelerate, to get into the details, to get down to business, and that's why I'm very happy and excited that we have a very diverse group of businessmen and businesswomen from Lithuania ready to share their experience.”

Chen Chern-chyi, Deputy Economic Affairs Minister: “We are friends, we are partners, and we already started doing business. The growth is increasing and now it is time for us to accelerate, to get into the details, to get down to business, and that's why I'm very happy and excited that we have a very diverse group of businessmen and businesswomen from Lithuania ready to share their experience.”

Taiwan and Lithuania are believed to have signed three memorandums of understanding so far. One is on next-gen laser technology cooperation between the Industrial Technology Research Center and a Lithuanian laser association. The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists has also signed separate MOUs with the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce and the Chinese National Federation of Industries. Scholars say Lithuania is an EU member, and bilateral cooperation can facilitate Taiwan's future cooperation with the EU.

Darson Chiu, Research Fellow, Taiwan Inst. of Econ. Research: “Lithuania is a member of the EU, and this can expand the investment and arrangements of Taiwan's high-tech industry over there and pave the way to make inroads into the entire EU market.”

Taiwan is also hoping to learn from Lithuania's offshore wind generation experience and exchange knowledge on green energy.

立陶宛經濟暨創新部次長澤麥提斯，這回再度率領企業團2度訪台，上午出席立陶宛投資商機說明會，藉此媒合兩國合作商機、鏈結企業。

立陶宛經創部次長澤麥提斯指出：「我們已經是朋友，是合作夥伴，我們已經開始做生意，成長正在增加中。現在是時候讓我們加速進入細節，開始做生意了，這就是為什麼，我非常高興和興奮的是，我們有來自立陶宛的一群多元化的商人和商業女性，準備分享他們的經驗。」

經濟部次長陳正祺表示：「雷射對於我們的生物科技，還有半導體產業都是很重要的一個元組件零組件，所以我們跟立陶宛的合作，會讓我們雙方的科技發展和工業發展都展開一個新的篇章。」

根據了解，目前台灣和立陶宛將簽署3項合作備忘錄，包括工研院和立陶宛雷射協會「超快雷射研發創新中心」合作備忘錄，合作開發次世代雷射技術。立陶宛工業家聯合會，還分別和工商協進會、工業總會，也簽署合作備忘錄。學者認為，立陶宛是歐盟成員，透過台立兩國拓展合作商機，有機會可以拉近和歐盟的合作距離。

台經院研究員邱達生提及：「立陶宛它本身是歐盟成員的一個身分，可以擴大台灣的高科技產業，在當地的這個投資跟布局，未來可以進軍這個整個歐盟市場。」

除了壯大兩國的科技業合作機會，也期盼能借鏡立陶宛的離岸風電，交流綠能產業經驗，深化雙方夥伴友好的互動關係。