Organized by the Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, the business forum “The Vitality of the Kaunas and Marijampolė Regions: Demographic Challenges for the Economy” brought attention to the growing impact of demographic change on regional economic development, labor market stability and Lithuania’s overall competitiveness. Participants stressed that addressing these challenges effectively will require close coordination between business, government and academia.
The representatives of Kaunas business community, politics, government, education and science institutions, non-governmental organizations and public sector were looking for decisions how to strengthen the country’s demographic resilience and create a long term vision of the state’s development.
Opening the Forum Zigmantas Dargevičius – the President of Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (KCCIC) has said: „Today we are talking not about one of the many problems. We are talking about the problems that will determine the Lithuania’s direction for the coming decades. Demography today is the fate of the economy. If the regions are getting empty – the labor market is weakening. If there is a shortage of people – investment stagnate. If we cannot attract talents – we lose competitiveness. We must say clearly: this is not the future risk. This is– the reality of the present“.
KCCIC President has also emphasized, that without real dialogue there will be no real solutions. „Good economic policy doesn’t start in the cabinets – it starts in the dialogue“, – said Z. Dargevičius, inviting business and government representatives to talk constantly and in essence.
The Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Juozas Olekas has emphasized at the Forum opening session that it was reached a clear consensus at the recently held conference at LR Parliament. He has noted that the shortage of labor is the number two problem. The number one problem is peace. J. Olekas said: „We can bring back our gone countrymen from everywhere”. He has invited to cooperate in order to improve the demographic situation and to solve the problem of the workers’ shortage.
All understand that the current demographic situation is unsatisfactory, therefore we must look comprehensively by acting in three directions: demography, controlled and managed immigration and the return of the emigrants. „Aesthetics, convenience and high-quality services are not enough, we also need well-paid workplaces“, – stated Mindaugas Sinkevičius – Mayor of Jonava district, the Chairman of Kaunas region development council board.
Kaunas University of Technology rector prof. Dr. Eugenijus Valatka stated, that the role of science and studies institutions is important in order to strengthen the regional economic potential through knowledge, innovation and talents’ training. „Education – is one of the most fundamental forces. Education has always been, is and will remain a force that determines the movement. But there are four components, which are crucial for city, region and country when we talk about the talents: infrastructure, economic activity, people and cultural things“, – the rector of Kaunas University of Technology expressed his gladness with the ongoing meetings, conferences and such forums which are becoming the spaces of community.
The experts from various fields: politics, business and science representatives explored the subject of demography from different perspectives in the Forum: from regions vitality, labor force demand and investment environment, talents’ training, technological advancement and future labor market.
In the first part of the Forum the attention was paid to the demographic changes impact on regions’ economic. There were discussed questions of the labor force shortage, business competitiveness and regional differences.
During the presentation about demographic changes Dr. Boguslavas Gruževskis – the professor from Vilnius University social politics department invited the audience to see the situation in Lithuania not only as a threat but also as an opportunity to look for new decisions in order to boost regional economic vitality. According to B. Gruževskis, migration should serve the state. We lost our long-term demographic stability 20 years ago. “Although we could have done a lot already 20 years ago, we are still considering what to do,” he said, noting that the education system must be required to prepare people for the labor market.
Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts General Secretary Rimas Varkulevičius emphasized in his report the impact of a declining labor supply on business expansion, investment decisions and competitiveness. He presented the results of a business survey conducted by KCCIC in January and noted that as many as 63% of respondents indicated a shortage of employees.
In the second part, it was discussed about the role of people in the future of the economy, the importance of the education system, the prerequisites for professional growth and the impact of digitalization, artificial intelligence and other technological changes on business decisions.
Dr. Dainius Žvirdauskas, President of the Lithuanian Association of School Leaders, emphasized in his presentation that Lithuania is currently experiencing the best period it has ever had and noted that not everything is bad. “There are good things, but we still have space for improvement,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Lina Kaminskienė, Chancellor of the Education Academy at Vytautas Magnus University, spoke about how to use of employees’ professionalism and expertise more effectively. “We must invest in order to enable higher-level thinking and action in individuals,” emphasized the Chancellor of the VMU Education Academy.
Dr. Rytis Krušinskas, Professor of Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business of Kaunas University of Technology, pointed out that in today’s global economic environment, data-driven decisions are essential. “We are losing our competitiveness, and if we do nothing, things will not turn out well,” said the Forum moderator and speaker, inviting people to think globally and act locally.
Two discussions also took place at the Forum. The representatives of government, business, education and organizations sought answers how to strengthen the workforce and how to align people’s potential with the opportunities created by technology.
Participants in the discussion “How Can We Enrich the People’s Workforce?” included Jūratė Zailskienė, Minister of Social Security and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania; Alicija Ščerbaitė, Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania; Rolandas Barysas, Editor-in-Chief of “Verslo žinios” and board member of Lithuania’s Junior Achievement; Aušra Čiužienė, HR Director at UAB Kormotech; Ieva Vengrovskaja, President of the Lithuanian Student Union; Dr. Andrius Brusokas, Director of Kaunas College; and Gražvydas Juodišius, Director of Marijampolė Vocational Training Centre.
The discussion “Where Does Smartness Lie – in People or Technology?” included Guoda Burokienė, Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania; Mantas Agentas, CEO of UAB Mantinga Group; Živilė Vikertienė, Head of HR and Organizational Development at UAB Axioma Metering; Prof. Dr. Jūratė Macijauskienė, Chair of the Senate at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the Medical Academy, and Head of the Geriatrics Clinic; Prof. Dr. Eugenijus Valatka, Rector of Kaunas University of Technology; and Tadas Stankevičius, Director of VšĮ Kaunas IN.
The discussions and the Forum were moderated by Dr. Rytis Krušinskas, Professor of Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business of Kaunas University of Technology and Dr. Mindaugas Misiūnas, Board Member of the Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts.
The Forum concluded with the presentation of a declaration on ensuring labor market stability.It is expected that the measures proposed in the declaration will create conditions to ensure regional economic stability, promote business competitiveness and growth, foster favorable conditions for improving public health, strengthen science and qualitative education, national security and to form an overall favorable environment for living in Lithuania.
We invite to create a sustainable, inclusive and competitive labor market in Kaunas, Marijampolė and in all Lithuania that would ensure that people desire to live, work and create their future here, take advantage of the ongoing technological development, and handle demographic challenges.
The organizer of Business Forum – Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts – is the biggest organization uniting business community of Marijampolė and Kaunas regions, representing business interests and providing services for business development.
Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, which unites more than 1000 members, is the biggest direct-membership business organization in Lithuania, actively contributing to regional economic growth, strengthening the business environment and encouraging dialogue between business, government and education institutions.
The partner of the Forum – Kaunas University of Technology, one of the largest and strongest universities of technological sciences in Lithuania, actively contributing to the country’s innovations, scientific advancement, and the training of highly qualified specialists.
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