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On 3-5 February, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Vidmantas Verbickas was in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he participated in the World Governments Summit (WGS). During the visit, Verbickas presented Lithuania's priorities in creating a competitive, innovation-based economy of the future and consistently strengthened economic dialogue with the UAE.

On 3-5 February, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Vidmantas Verbickas was in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he  participated in the World Governments Summit (WGS). During the visit, Verbickas  presented Lithuania's priorities in creating a competitive, innovation-based economy of the future and consistently strengthened economic dialogue with the UAE.

The Vice-Minister spoke at the forum on the future of economies, held within the World Government Summit. Verbickas gave a detailed overview of Lithuania's innovation ecosystem, the development of the technology sector, the start-up environment, and state policy directions oriented towards productivity growth, digital transformation, and the creation of high added value.

During his visit, Verbickas also participated in an informal high-level meeting organized by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, dedicated to strengthening economic resilience. Together with Ministers and representatives of the academic community, he discussed the impact of technological change on international cooperation and stressed that demographic processes, environmental challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty required a new, more flexible approach to economic policy.

In Dubai, the Vice-Minister Verbickas also met with Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, the UAE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, to discuss the priorities of economic cooperation between Lithuania and the UAE, opportunities for trade and investment development, and the role of innovation and tourism in strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, special attention was paid to the space sector. The Vice-Minister Verbickas met with Salem AlMarri, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, with whom he discussed the prospects for Lithuanian companies to participate in joint projects and invited representatives of the UAE space sector to participate in Vilnius Space Days in May 2026.

During his visit to the UAE, Vice-Minister Verbickas also visited Abu Dhabi, where he met with the management of Mubadala Bio. The meeting addressed opportunities for cooperation between Lithuania and the UAE in the field of life sciences, including the development of biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, and innovation ecosystems. The Vice-Minister invited Mubadala Bio representatives to visit the Life Sciences Baltics 2027 exhibition and conference.

The World Government Summit is a high-level international forum held annually in Dubai, bringing together heads of state, ministers, leaders of international organizations, business, and academia to discuss global trends in economics, technology, governance, and sustainable development. This event is considered one of the most important platforms for shaping future public policy, promoting innovation, and strengthening international cooperation.