E. Grikšas will participate in the AI Impact Summit 2026 event in India with leaders from nearly 40 countries

Minister of Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas is visiting India on a business trip from February 18 to 20, where he will join leaders from other countries at the AI Impact Summit 2026, an event dedicated to addressing issues related to the impact, accessibility, and ethics of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Minister will also meet with Shri Jitin Prasada, India's Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, and attend the India AI Tech Reception, an event dedicated to discussing the direction of AI development in India.

'Artificial intelligence is becoming one of the most important factors determining the competitiveness of countries, economic growth, and the resilience of society. Therefore, it is extremely important for Lithuania to be where international decisions are made. This visit is an opportunity not only to contribute to the global artificial intelligence agenda, but also to strengthen cooperation with strategic partners in the fields of technology, innovation, and trade,' says E. Grikšas.

According to the minister, the visit to India takes place at a particularly important time, when economic ties between the European Union (EU) and India are strengthening - a bilateral trade and cooperation agreement has been signed, opening up new opportunities for Lithuanian businesses and exporters. This agreement will allow EU countries to reduce tariffs on exports of food products, cars, and other goods to India.

The minister will participate in the opening session and leaders' meeting of the AI Impact Summit 2026. This is the first high-level international AI meeting in the Global South.

During his visit, E. Grikšas will also participate in the event "Women's Digital Empowerment in AI, the Digital Economy & Cybersecurity," organized by the Lithuanian Embassy in cooperation with the Indian Data Security Council. At the event, the minister will deliver a welcoming speech and, together with international partners, discuss women's leadership in AI and the digital economy, AI ethics, policy, and governance issues, and examine the links between gender, AI, and cybersecurity.

E. Grikšas will also attend the Lithuanian National Day celebration in New Delhi, where he will deliver a welcoming speech. The event will also be attended by Lithuanian honorary consuls, ambassadors and diplomats from Ukraine and other countries, representatives of Indian institutions, and members of the cultural, business, and academic communities.

In 2025, bilateral trade turnover between Lithuania and India amounted to EUR 277.5 million, of which exports accounted for EUR 99.1 million and imports for EUR 178.4 million.

Lithuania is seeking leadership in the field of AI: the LitAI AI factory is being established in the country, which will become the only center for technology and expertise of this level in the Baltic States and will bring together science, business, and the public sector. The factory will provide more than 150 different services, including access to high-performance computing infrastructure, thereby strengthening Lithuania's innovation capabilities and ensuring technological independence. In addition, an AI consultation center (GovAI) for the public sector will begin operating in Lithuania this year, helping institutions keep pace with rapid technological advances and implement secure AI solutions. In 2025, the EIMIN initiative also launched a regulatory AI sandbox for business, helping companies to develop innovative and reliable solutions that are competitive on a global scale.