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Lithuania seeks Turkish contractors for $7.3B transport overhaul: Report

Construction site of the main Rail Baltica line in Lithuania, accessed on May 20, 2025. (Photo via railbaltica.org)
Construction site of the main Rail Baltica line in Lithuania, accessed on May 20, 2025. (Photo via railbaltica.org)
May 20, 2025 02:44 PM GMT+03:00

In a pivotal meeting held between senior officials from Lithuania’s Railways Authority and Türkiye’s Commercial Counsellor's Office in Vilnius, Lithuania formally extended an invitation to Turkish companies to participate in its €6.5 billion ($7.31 billion) transport infrastructure program, the Turkish media reported.

According to details emerging from the meeting, as reported by Türkiye daily, Lithuania plans to allocate approximately €5.5 billion over the next five years to upgrade and expand its railway infrastructure. Lithuanian officials expressed interest in collaborating with Turkish firms on these projects, pointing to Türkiye’s growing reputation in regional reconstruction efforts and its proven capacity to deliver large-scale infrastructure.

Rail Baltica opens door for Turkish participation

One of the key components of this development drive is Lithuania’s segment of the “Rail Baltica” Project—an EU-backed initiative that aims to fully integrate the Baltic states into the broader European rail network. Lithuanian railway officials noted that tenders worth around €400 million have already been launched for this portion of the project, with additional tenders to follow.

Concept rendering of a high-speed Rail Baltica train, part of the EU-backed project in Lithuania, accessed on May 20, 2025. (Photo via railbaltica.org)
Concept rendering of a high-speed Rail Baltica train, part of the EU-backed project in Lithuania, accessed on May 20, 2025. (Photo via railbaltica.org)

Crucially, Lithuanian representatives expressed that they would be pleased to collaborate with Turkish firms on these railway investments, citing Türkiye’s strong project execution capacity as a major asset.

Strategic Klaipeda port project offers further opportunity

In addition to rail, discussions have also extended to seaport development. During a recent visit to Klaipeda, Lithuania’s largest port city and the site of the biggest maritime terminal in the Baltic region, Turkish trade representatives met with executives from the Klaipeda Port Authority.

Aerial view of Klaipeda Port, the largest maritime hub in the Baltic region in Lithuania, accessed on May 20, 2025. (Photo via turkiyegazetesi.com)
Aerial view of Klaipeda Port, the largest maritime hub in the Baltic region in Lithuania, accessed on May 20, 2025. (Photo via turkiyegazetesi.com)

At the meeting, port officials presented details of the “Southport” Project, which involves the construction of a new terminal under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. The planned facility, expected to cost €600 million, will involve reclaiming 100 hectares of sea area. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028.

Following these developments, the Turkish Trade Ministry has taken steps to inform and engage the domestic business community regarding the upcoming opportunities in Lithuania.

May 20, 2025 02:47 PM GMT+03:00
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