Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

02/18/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/19/2026 05:58

Lithuania’s delegation to the AI Impact Summit highlights the importance of women’s leadership in AI, the digital economy, and cybersecurity

On 18 February 2026, the Embassy of Lithuania in New Delhi, in partnership with the Data Security Council of India, co-organized an exclusive session on "Women's Leadership in AI, the Digital Economy and Cybersecurity", which featured speeches by Lithuania's Minister of the Economy and Innovation, Edvinas Grikšas, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taurimas Valys.
Speaking at the event, which sought to reflect on the roadmap for empowering women in an AI-driven world, Minister Grikšas noted: "Research shows that diverse teams develop better products, identify risks earlier, and adapt more effectively to technological change. Today, women represent 33.4% of people with AI competencies in Lithuania, which is higher than the global average of 30.5%. We are proud of this result, but there is still clear potential for further progress. Continued investment in education, mentoring, and supportive professional environments, therefore, remains essential. At the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, we are committed to this agenda."
Vice-Minister Valys said: "Empowering women in AI is not optional - it is strategic. Gender equality in the AI domain strengthens innovation, improves resilience, enriches perspectives in policymaking, and builds systems that better serve society as a whole."
Vinayak Godse, CEO of the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), mentioned: "Economies across the globe are realizing the profound impact of emerging technologies, which are witnessing accelerated development and adoption. Women are driving a lot of these efforts, especially at leadership levels. For DSCI, it has been a matter of great privilege to work with the ecosystem to contribute to this strategic imperative. "
Atul Kumar, Director, Government Initiatives & Global Trade, of DSCI, said: "Representation of women in Strategic technology areas and Cyber has been steadily rising, and organizations across the board are strategizing for a diverse and robust workforce. It is essential to catalyse the efforts that are underway in this regard. DSCI is proud to join forces with the Embassy of Lithuania for this critical endeavour. " Taking place in the backdrop of the AI Impact Summit, the session created an engaging platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and networking by bringing together pertinent stakeholders to explore pathways for inclusive, secure, and gender-responsive digital futures.
The leaders engaged in crucial conversations around how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence are reshaping industries-and why it is critical that women are nurtured as leaders in these realms.
The conversation also entailed opportunities in the digital economy, examining how ecosystems are expanding pathways for women entrepreneurs globally. Speakers highlighted the growing threat landscape, the need for more women in cybersecurity leadership roles, and strategies to build safer digital environments while emphasizing capacity-building initiatives, policy frameworks, and cross-sector partnerships that ensure women are empowered not just as users of technology but as architects of secure, ethical, and resilient digital futures.
The event also marks the Embassy of Lithuania taking over the European Union Gender Championship in India. In this role, the Embassy will act as the flag bearer for gender equality in India, stepping up efforts to promote gender equality and women's empowerment through events, conferences, and debates.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania published this content on February 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 19, 2026 at 11:58 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]