Lithuania – a country of great ambition. Here, tradition meets modern innovation. The country is already known as a fintech hub, standing out for its agility and progressive regulatory environment. International companies such as Palantir, DriveWealth, and Epam Systems develop innovative solutions here, while local startups – including unicorns Vinted and Nord Security – prove that Lithuania can compete with Europe’s leading innovation nations.
But Lithuania is not just a technology center. Its gastronomic scene is rapidly making a name for itself globally: restaurants awarded with Michelin stars show that one can experience a true culinary adventure here.
Lithuania attracts not only investors and tech companies but also tourists, who discover the country’s uniqueness. The travel publisher Lonely Planet recently listed Lithuania among the Top 10 countries in the world to visit, and as the No. 1 destination in Europe.
As a country that is rapidly expanding its international connections and proving its potential to investors, Lithuania naturally becomes a platform for fostering business cooperation with other nations. This spirit is embodied by the annual Team Lita Business Award, organized on October 23 by the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Israel. The award honors business representatives who make a significant contribution to strengthening economic cooperation between Lithuania and Israel.
This year’s laureate was the Israeli airline, Israir Airlines, recognized for its efforts in promoting tourism and economic cooperation between Lithuania and Israel by launching a direct flight route Tel Aviv – Vilnius – Tel Aviv.
The Ambassador of Lithuania to Israel, Audrius Brūzga, highlighted that the award to Israir Airlines was far from coincidental – it represents an acknowledgment of an initiative that truly reshapes the geography of Lithuanian–Israeli cooperation. According to him, direct air connectivity not only brings business partners closer but also strengthens people-to-people ties, increases Lithuania’s visibility in Israel (and vice versa), and opens broader opportunities for both countries in the fields of technology, tourism, and innovation.
The guest of honor, Uri Maklev — former Deputy Minister of Transport, Member of the Knesset, and proud Litvak — highlighted the unique historical bond between Lithuania and Israel, noting that bilateral relations have been rapidly strengthening in recent years, with cooperation expanding from economics to innovation and culture.
The Team Lita Business Award is an annual award established by the Embassy of Lithuania in Israel, presented to a business representative or company for strengthening Lithuanian–Israeli economic cooperation, building long-term, sustainable, and successful partnerships between companies of both countries, expanding trade, technological, and investment relations, creating jobs, and contributing to cultural dialogue between the nations. It also recognizes social responsibility, rewarding individuals or companies that actively support social projects important to Lithuania or contribute to the well-being of the Lithuanian community in Israel.
It is worth recalling that in 2024, the award went to Wix, one of the world’s leading website-building platforms.