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Lithuanian Business Confederation | ICC Lithuania for the tenth time has awarded “The Partnership Leader”. This year the winner is The Minister of Transport and Communications Eligijus Masiulis. The award of “The Business Ambassador” went to the founder of GetJar Ilja Laurs. The new nomination of “The Socially Responsible Business” went to The Lithuanian Brewers Guild. 

„Last year the Minister Eligijus Masiulis contributed significantly to the co-operation between the government and business as well as the development of the infrastructure of the country. His activities include reduction of bureaucracy and taxes, the pricing system of the state owned airports was optimized, the construction of the Rail Baltica was started, creation of the public logistic centers was initiated, successful use of the EU funds as well as other activities” – says the president of the Lithuanian Business Confederation | ICC Lithuania Valdas Sutkus. 

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has used the largest amount of the EU funds in 2010 – 891 million Litas which was dedicated to the development of the transportation infrastructure of the country. Another important fact is that during the recession local companies were able to keep workplaces and pay taxes. The freight amount at railways in 2010 has increased in 12,6 % in Lithuania. The freight in Klaipėda sea port increased by 12,2% last year. 

„One of the most important goals of the future is to strengthen Lithuania as a transit country. While the amounts of freight are growing we are planning to increase the capacities of Klaipėda sea port as well as to open four new logistic centers. We have high expectations related to the European railway track which should reach Kaunas in three years. Another important goal is further implementation of information technologies into the system of transportation of the country. We see numerous possibilities to improve communication and traveling conditions using new technologies” – claims the minister of Transport and Communications Eligijus Masiulis. 

The nomination of „The Partnership Leader” is awarded to the governmental officials and reflects the opinion of business community about their activities. In previous years the name of “The Partnership Leader” was awarded to H.E. President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, the Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, the EU Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaitė as well as other officials. 

Ilja Laurs, the manager of the most popular mobile games website GetJar was awarded with the name of “The Business Ambassador 2010” for the promotion of business partnership between Lithuania and foreign countries. This nomination was founded three years ago by the long-term partner of the Lithuanian Business Confederation | ICC Lithuania bank Snoras. Ilja Laurs has started active social activity in 2009 at the World Lithuanian Economic Forum organized by Lithuanian Business Confederation. Soon he became famous for his business achievements, wrote for the most famous business magazines of the world. The GetJar project which was created in Lithuania 5 years ago is now one of the leading projects in the world among the distribution of mobile applications. In 2009 Ilja Lauras was acknowledged as one of the 40 most influential persons in the world telecommunication industry and last year in Los Angeles GetJar was awarded as the best mobile service. 

The new award of “The Socially Responsible Business’ was awarded to The Lithuanian Brewers Guild for their social communication campaign “For the self expression of young people without alcohol 18+” which became the biggest social campaign in Lithuania initiated by the business. This business self-regulatory initiative seeks to decrease the consumption of alcohol among young people. The participants of the campaign – young authorities who demonstrate with their own example that you can only become original and interesting for yourself and others by not using the alcohol. 

The candidates for the awards are each year suggested by the members of The Lithuanian Business Confederation | ICC Lithuania, Lithuanian business community. The final decision is made by the presidium of the Confederation.