During the last weeks of this month when fuel prices in Lithuania grew beyond any reason, our hard-tempered character was given one more chance to see that energy is alpha and omega of economic life. In fact, the problem of the so called “liquid energy” (fuel) caused the interest of the whole European Union (so far we will not speak about more distant countries). Yet, we have our own peculiarities that are not very pleasant. These have been finally noticed by the European authorities on the official and very serious level. Heads of the EU Member States and governments have recognised that the main problem of the Lithuanian energy sector is its isolation from the European energy networks. According to the Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, the heads of European states have made a decision very important to the security of the Lithuanian energy sector. The priority in the EU energy policy will be given to solving problems of isolated energy markets, as are the Baltic States. The European Council has invited the European Commission to prepare the Plan for Priority Interconnections this year which will envisage concrete measures for integration of isolated markets. The European Union is a large and reliable market for such countries as Russia, so working hand in hand with the largest suppliers should help us in achieving practical and long-term goals in security of energy supply.
In his state-of-the-nation address the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Admakus has also pointed that having decommissioned the Ignalina NPP Lithuania will become dependant on the single source of energy. “Taking into account the political aspects of gas supply from Russia, I believe that alternative sources of energy supply which create conditions for competition and energy security, is one of the most important strategic goals,’ said the President so welcoming the document signed by the heads of government of the three Baltic States concerning the construction of a new nuclear power unit in Ignalina. This is going to enhance, in considerable way, energy security not only of Lithuania but also the entire Baltic region.
However, the construction of the Russian-German pipeline bypassing the Baltic States is not the only and clear example that the logics of economic decisions made by our neighbours is decided by the political situation. For instance, it was recently reported that the construction of the third line of the Baltic pipeline system had been completed. The new Russian ports at the coast of the Baltic Sea are also very often discussed. This means that the Transneft oil will not reach Lithuania and other Baltic countries and, taking together with Finland, these countries will loose about one billion dollars.
How large are Russia’s losses? Economic and scientific arguments and the fact that these will be freezing ports and the bay is shallow have not changed the opinion of the Russian politicians. Moreover, plans are made to put into operation the ferry line St Petersburg-Kaliningrad-Mukran. This means that railway freight wagons will go to Germany without stopping in Klaipėda Seaport so economically weakening the latter and strengthening the port of Kaliningrad. Won’t it happen so that the Klaipėda port will have to change its activities and hunt after Western transit cargoes?
On the other hand, the good news in the field of transit transportations is that an agreement has been recently reached deciding to increase freight transportations by the container train Viking. This international train going towards Ilyichevsk port (Odessa) and stopping for cargoes in Minsk (Belarus) and Kiev (Ukraine) is bring the political dividends. And again, some resolutions, like the decision of the Lithuanian Radio and Television to stop broadcasting the Belarus TV hardly contribute to the closer economic cooperation and trade. The author of this text has never watched this TV, still I would like to ask “cleaners” of the ether why they think, for instance, me to be so ideologically weak that after having accidentally turned on that channel I will become captivated by the world outlook absolutely strange to me? Such decisions resemble the soviet past and finally do not conform to the principle and spirit of good neighbourly relations, even having in mind the present-day political regime in Belarus.
On the whole, we, when feverishly urging the Slav nations to follow the model of European democracy and market, should not, probably, forget that these are nations that due to the peculiarities of their historic development, original mentality, cultural traditions give preference to collectiveness (let’s recall the old-day Russian rural communities) and weak ruler (head). Different from western nations, they are not so inclined to individuality. Therefore, the market economy, parliamentary elections and other expressions of democracy have never been popular or valued by citizens of these countries. This is why conditions for values to turn inside-out – corruption, autocracy, social disbalance - get formed. Hardly it is worth making cardinal changes in the sacrifice of economic rationality and good neighbourly relations.
We here, in Lithuania, are also not happy about the news on the integration front. I mean introduction of the euro. We fully comply to all Maastricht criteria, except for the present-day inflation indicator of 0,07 percent that would become absolutely meaningless if, according to the Lithuanian Prime Minister, the previously approved round-up calculation method is used. However, it seems that the European authorities are not willing to do so and so they are closing the doors for the euro introduction in Lithuania.
Does really the problem lies in several hundredths? If we view this dilemma in the wider context, it simply becomes funny. For instance, such large European states like Germany does not meet this criterion, as does not Ireland with the inflation of over three percent. Consequently, hardly it is worth talking about this concrete altruistic-looking argument that the European Central Bank would find it difficult to set interest rates acceptable to all countries. There are, probably, other reasons, the most important of which is the fact that we still lag behind the economic average of the EU countries. However, if we do not introduce the euro, we will not catch up with them and the reasons will be that we will not promote foreign trade and investment, spend more money for information and exchange rates. According to the observers, the last and not the least reason why we will not have the euro might be that nearly half of Lithuanians (42 percent) does not want to see the euro as the national currency. This fact has made an impression to the European authorities. In the last issues, I already touched upon the objective reasons for such attitude towards the euro and wish to hint to subjective factors in this publication – this percentage might have been lower if the Bank of Lithuania and its public relations have made a better work.
Analysts say that if the euro is not introduced, the trust in Lithuania will not grow also on the international scale. This means that corresponding institutions in Lithuania will have to conduct the huge explanatory campaign. And the most unpleasant question – when will Lithuania introduce the euro? - will still remain open. How may higher inflation indicators be avoided in the presence of the growing economy, increasing consumption and so the prices? What if the world oil prices continue to go up, or Russia increases the price of gas? Won’t it happen so that the European Commission and the Central European Bank were those that mischief thatched and mischief caught?
The final decision will be made by the European governing bodies on 16 May. The euro (non)introduction will bring order into the construction market that still experiences artificial boom of prices. These days, the Lithuanian Exhibition Centre LITEXPO hosts the specialised exhibition of construction and renovation Resta during which builders, producers of building materials, heads of construction organisations will, probably, discuss the euro and its impact upon the construction market.

The spring of constructions has again come to Lithuania. Lithuanian builders have greeted it in high spirits – last year construction volumes grew by 10 percent and made 6 billion litas. The universal truth is that construction is the mirror of national economy, so the rapid growth of construction industry is associated with economic and social development, growth of the Gross Domestic Product as.
Calculations show that around 50 percent of all constructions have been done by companies belonging to the Lithuanian Builders Association. I think that I will not lie in saying that many of these companies are the example of huge progress made in recent years. Activity volumes of some of the largest companies like YIT Kausta, Panevėžio statybos trestas, Ranga IV, Constructus, Eika, specialised company Montuotojas are approaching 150 million litas. Significant progress has been made by the companies Skirnuva, Kortas, Andova, Kaminta, Hidrostatyba. The industrial companies like Akmenės cementas, Paroc, Wavin Baltic, Jūrės medis, window manufacturing enterprises are expanding their production volumes as wll.
Economic experts forecast that the economic development will continue to progress. To my opinion, the annual growth of construction volumes will be 10 percent or 0.5 billion litas, labour productivity and wages will also augment.
Turing-point is still expected
The decline of construction of residential houses and flats reminded of a decade-lasting frost and caused great concern to all of us. The results of 2004, the year when 6804 flats were built, gave hope that we had finally moved from the dead-point. Alas, the figures of the last year were a cold shower – 861 flats were built less, construction of individual houses, although insignificantly, also dropped down. The opinions were heard that the deficit of dwellings was artificial as were the prices. Accordingly, the construction of dwellings is both a problem and a perspective.
On the initiative of the Lithuanian Builders Association and in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and other institutions a standing Governmental commission headed by the Prime Minister of Lithuania and four working groups were formed last year. Amendments to some laws have been submitted to the Seimas and we greatly expect them to be adopted during the coming spring session.
I am absolutely convinced that we must build twice more dwellings – 12 or probably 15 thousand every year, what is actually envisaged in the Housing Development Strategy prepared by the Ministry of Environment. The company Ranga IV plans to build 44 blocks of flats in Pašilaičiai District in Vilnius that should be inhabited by two thousand families. Eika is constructing 2 blocks of houses in Santariškės, YIT Kausta – the complex of 10 houses Rivera, Hanner – 3 blocks of multi-storey blocks of flats and individual houses in Jeruzalė, Santariškės and Visoriai.
The company Būstuva is engaged in construction of a complex of 11 multi-storey blocks of flats in Kaunas. There are plans to build the district Parkas of 550 flats in Šiauliai. Projects for construction of two 6 and 9 storey houses will be realised by Skirnuva in Alytus, a block of houses by UAB Plienas in Klaipėda.
A step in cooperation
“Scattered Lithuania” – these are the words chanted by the intellectuals, “300 thousand Lithuanians have emigrated” – says the official statistics.
The lack of labour force and brain drain is more and more evident in instruction industry also. Although the situation is not critical so far, we are becoming very much concerned about the future. The goal of the Lithuanian Builders Association is not to eliminate the consequences of this unwanted phenomenon but rather prevent it. Our calculations show that in the near future 7-8 thousand building specialists and workers will be needed in the construction business. Though the official statistics shows that there are 80 thousand unemployed in Lithuania, possibilities for their re-qualification are very limited.
Little by little we enter into cooperation with the higher and vocational schools specialising in construction. Relations have been strengthened and cooperation agreements have been signed with Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Kaunas Technological University that have construction faculties as members of our Association. Similar agreements have been signed with technical colleges. The Association has initiated amendments to laws and has achieved that the employers may include the financial aid given to students into the production costs. Besides, the Seimas has passed amendments to the Law on Income Tax of Individuals saying that the income tax of individuals is not imposed on scholarships given by the employers to students.
One more step in expanding the cooperation has been entering into closer relations with vocational schools, builders training centres. This year, around 8 thousand young people have decided to study construction or related specialities, about 2 thousand graduates come to construction sites every year. The Ministry of Education and Science and particularly Director of the Professional and Continuous Training Department of this ministry Romualdas Pusvaškis have achieved that actually no limits are set for admission into specialities relating to construction. However, our goal still remains to see twice more students studying builder’s profession in the coming years.
The examples of fruitful cooperation speak for themselves. Vilnius Vocational School of Builders with over 1000 would-be builders has been reorganised into the public enterprise and traditionally keeps close relations with the Builders Association and construction companies. AB Kausta expands its cooperation with the Kaunas School of Builders.
The implementation of the project Enhancement of Competence and Capacities of Human Resources in the Lithuanian Construction Sector was launched by the Lithuanian Builders Association in March 2005 and will be co-financed by the EU structural funds (2.5 million litas). It has been planned that in 2 years over 4 thousand builders employed in the Association companies will improve skills and learn additional professions with the help of the project.
25 members in one year
13 year ago, on the initiative of the then Prime Minister of Lithuania Bronislovas Lubys, six construction companies established the Lithuanian Builders Association. The Association had a very concrete goal – to unify the forces of construction companies for the operation in foreign countries, mainly Russia. At that time, such companies did not have work in Lithuania.
In the run of time, the situation in Lithuania changed and so the Association was becoming stronger. Today, it includes 127 construction enterprises and organisations. The group of construction companies is the largest in number uniting 91 enterprises. The Association also has 15 industrial companies, 5 design and several other organisations. The Lithuanian Association of Windows and Doors Manufacturers including
25 members directly participates in Association activities. We closely collaborate with other similar associations, like Association of Construction Industry, newly established Association of Plumbing Enterprises and others, Union of Civil Engineers. The Lithuanian Builders Association has entered into cooperation with similar associations and organisations in France, Germany, Portugal, Israel, Nordic countries, Poland, Baltic States, Kaliningrad Region.
In representing interests of its members, the Association solves all types of problems that arise to builders. I am very happy to see that more and more of our colleagues understand the importance of solidarity, evaluate our attempts. With every year, the number of companies wishing to become members of the Association grows. Last year 25 companies joined the Lithuanian Builders Association.

The construction market remains active irrespective of the season of the year, and so are the construction companies building new and European quality multi-apartment houses in new districts. The builders of residential houses are facing huge competition that is introducing its own rules: the qualitative construction works are usually not enough in wishing to successfully sell a new apartment – the priority is given to a house in a quiet place with good communication and well-developed infrastructure.
Turn-key projects: from buying land to keys to a new appartment
UAB Arkada established as a Lithuanian private capital company in 1992 carefully follows clients’ wishes and attaches huge importance to their comfort. For this reason and also understanding that the choice of apartments with partial finishing is very large in Vilnius, UAB Arkada offers fully-finished apartments with plumbing, individual accounting of water, electricity and heat. The company is also flexible in making any changes that a future owner of an apartment wishes to do. UAB Arkada directly, without any mediators, works with owners of flats, has a proficient team of specialists to conduct construction works and is the seller of the real property objects. Only natural materials (wood parquet, wood window frames and doors, ceramic floor and wall tiles) are used for the interior decoration, making eco-friendliness and man-healthy microclimate the exceptional features of all flats.
The first and third districts in Pilaitė, semi-detached houses and houses in Baltupiai, L. Giros, Verkių,
L. Asanavičiūtės and Architektų streets, Saltoniškės district, M. Marcinkevičiaus street are the places where the projects of UAB Arkada have been realised. The company has built about 2000 flats that are already inhabited.
UAB Arkada buys land plots in different places near Vilnius so expanding its market. Such principle of work makes the construction process much more complex and imparts larger responsibility – in selling the completely finished flat UAB Arkada becomes responsible for its after-sales guarantee maintenance.
UAB Arkada has conducted an analysis to find out what type of buyers are interested in their flats. The findings have demonstrated that these are educated people, specialists working in subsidiaries of foreign companies, etc. The company does not sell semi-finished flats, otherwise the neighbours will be bothered by the noise caused by repairs.
A client is always invited to watch the construction process, express his wishes in choosing colours, ceramic tiles and other decoration elements. A buyer may even present his own project for the interior design and decide how many rooms should a flat have. The technologies and materials used by the company Arkada enable to mount partition walls in the completely finished flat making no harm to its interior what also proves the proficiency of highly skilled specialists.
Highly skilled specialists - the backbone of UAB Arkada
The driving force of the company cherishing old traditions and boasting large experience is skilled, young specialists actively seeking to win leader’s positions on the construction market of residential houses. Young people are employed in various sectors starting from workers to work managers and are supervised by experienced specialists, civil engineers and managers of construction works. The company UAB Arkada holds to the principle to provide workers with the best equipment, qualitative materials and offer them possibilities to improve their skills and attend training. Modern technologies allow people to become top quality specialists in 2-3 years and namely such people work in the company. It has been not an easy task for Arkada to gather the staff of 200 people who would be willing and capable to work hand in hand every day.
The environment is the factor that makes a dwelling comfortable
According to the Director General of UAB Arkada Julius Masėnas who has the experience of 30 years in the management of construction works the environment that surrounds a dwelling house and panorama outside it are extremely important in achieving the comfort of living. The company strives and succeeds in keeping the optimum balance among the local infrastructure, nature and public transport. New houses are built in districts with shops, schools, kindergartens, pavements and streets, have a forest or a park nearby, their surroundings and parking sites for cars are well-arranged.

The exhibition of business contacts “Kaunas 2006” arranged six years in turn attracts a large number of visitors and participants from Lithuania and foreign countries. The year-by-year growing interest in the exhibition opens new possibilities for the dialogue of business, science and politics and creates the synergy of interaction of these sectors. Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Craftts (further in the text the Chamber), one of the main organisers and initiators of the traditional exhibition, demonstrates the consistent and systematic attitude towards the lobistic activities of the city and regional business interests and plans that the exhibition “Kaunas 2006” will be one more step in moving towards this goal. The Director of Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts Dr Vytautas Šileikis speaks to the journal B&E about the activities of the Chamber and the exhibition.
The traditional opinion that the prerogative of the initiative in organization of business symposiums and conferences, especially international, belongs to the capital city Vilnius. When and how was the idea born to arrange this kind of exhibition in Kaunas?
Kaunas has always had the unique and so far unexhausted potential, however it has also experienced hard moments in economic development. The well known saying “Kaunas is Kaunas” has clearly symbolized Kaunas as the flourishing Hansa city and Provisional Capital and its economic development. This saying as if pointed to nothing concrete and still showed the role of Kaunas as the leading business centre. Kaunas is the donor of human intellectual resources for Lithuania and Europe. It has the developing academic education sources and centres that give education to high qualification specialists for industry and businesses needing high technologies. The city with over 40 000 students by the size of its population (300 000 thousand residents) is a city of universities, however we must take care that graduates of these universities should be provided with a possibility to find well-paid jobs in Kaunas instead of using the gained knowledge in foreign countries. To curb the process of emigration (brain drain) we need to invite industrialists, business community and municipal politicians to join their forces, decisions and will. The development of industrial infrastructure open to knowledge is a parallel process that demands the attention of heads of industrial and production companies, promising youth and, by all means, investment into technologies and human resources. It is very important that all groups be them businessmen, industrialists, representatives of science and academic society will have the best possibilities for cooperation, sharing their ideas and experience. The exhibition of business contacts is the event that best serves this purpose. It is the space where people do not compete but rather create synergic models helping to liberate the potential of Kaunas and achieve the economic move-forward.
The unique and convenient geopolitical location of Kaunas is one more key to success. The International Karmėlava Airport, creation of the logistics intermodal centre, rebirth of Kaunas Free Economic Zone, existing energy resources and the well-developed transport and communication infrastructure give Kaunas priceless advantage in its economic growth, improving investment and business environment, international cooperation. Kaunas is a city very convenient for business development and green field investment, since significantly less money is needed, compared to the capital city, to achieve qualitative results. Moreover, prices of real property and land parcels are much lower in Kaunas. Therefore, in organizing the exhibition of business contacts, we seek for wide and targeted dissemination of information about Kaunas both on the Lithuanian and European scale. All participants of the exhibition will be free-of-charge introduced in the catalogue of the exhibition and its website at the address www.kaunas.expo.lt in the Lithuanian and English languages. The information about the exhibition will be passed through foreign partners of Kaunas County, EU business information centres, website of Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, foreign and Lithuanian embassies, state institutions, business promoting organizations, science and education institutions. We also want to see that the information reaches all 16 cities partners of Kaunas city. Lithuanian businessmen and investors whose economic and financial capacities have increased making them economically stronger will also find valuable information at the exhibition. The specific targeted group of the exhibition will be small and medium business. We think that the free-of-charge area of 6 square meters given as the municipal subsidy to such companies will be a serious stimulus and a chance to participate at the exhibition, present activities and production. The information-education purpose of the exhibition is very important. In the form of forums and seminars it will help to exchange valuable information and experience in the search of new cooperation methods and possibilities. Therefore we have a goal to make the exhibition not only a showcase of marketing companies but also the event for generation of the development of scientific-technological potential and innovations. 2 forums will show the scientific and education character of the exhibition: “Investment and business in Kaunas region: conditions and possibilities” and “Science, studies and business: strategic partnership for long-term development”. We expect that participants and guests of the exhibition will find the exhibition useful and enter into new contacts, gain new and valuable experiences. We, the organizers, will work hard to create the best conditions for efficient cooperation of participants and guests, promote creative and productive forms of representation.
Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts serves the interests of business and industry 15 years.
How has its activities changed after the EU accession?
The EU integration opens new possibilities and gives Kaunas the new dimension in realizing its potential. Kaunas industry and business companies are expanding their activities and search for new markets both in Lithuania and foreign countries. The single EU market brings new possibilities and challenges. It is pleasant to note that the number of companies with activity and production standards meeting the European requirements grows what even more enhances the possibilities for expansion of Kaunas companies into foreign markets. The interest of foreign investors in strategic investment projects realized in Kaunas also grows. In strengthening business self-governance and competitiveness, we give large attention to consultation of companies, organize seminars and conferences, arrange thematic exhibitions, business mission and visits. In this relation, flexible public relations, information dissemination and representation of European associated structures are very important. No less attention is directed to educational programmes promoting competitiveness, personnel management capacities and introduction of modern technologies and innovations
We work in cooperation with the associated structures, like ECOSOC Committee in Brussels, Eurochambrest-European Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, Baltic Association of Chambers of Commerce situated in Malme (Sweden). We have successfully realized 27 European-scale projects and therefore think that it is useful to be the member of the Chamber. Only 10 percent of membership fees go to the estimate of implemented projects. The rest money arrives from various structural and financial funds. The present-day system of the Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, from the structural point, is one of the best developed and clearly shows the problems in business self-government. Our priority is to create a modern business self-government that will shape business environment meeting all expectations of businessmen. Businessmen, actively participating in activities of the Chamber, get involved into the decision-making process, are given the possibility to influence preparation and adoption of legal acts governing business activities by well-organized lobistic actions.
Business environment greatly depends upon the cooperation of business and citizens self-governments. Agreements signed between the Chamber and governing bodies grant possibilities for participation in the process of planning the economic development of the city and county, as well as influence the formation of business environment and sustainable development of the region.
Thank you very much
for an interview.

Vytautas Navickas is the Director of the Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre since the day of its establishment 42 years ago. “Our former students are found nearly in every place in Lithuania. In the run of years we have experienced both happy and sad moments. For many years, the construction industry floundered and today we are glad to see its revival and are convinced that making a progress has always been very important,” says the Director of the Centre born in Klaipėda who involves the whole staff of the Training Centre into productive training activities. The Director of the Centre was the witness and initiator of the establishment of the Centre: an annex building was built in 1964, dormitories – in 1967, one more building – in 1990.
The major goal of the Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre is training of adults, including the unemployed and warned about termination of the employment contract. The Centre also invites people wishing to improve professional skills, study professions popular on the labour market or simply get fresh knowledge. The Training Centre has the departments of construction, wood processing, welding, construction mechanisation, safety at work and health care. “A person is free to choose a training programme according to his education, abilities and needs. Cognitive courses, consultations and advise of lecturers greatly help in choosing the future studies,” says Deputy Director of the Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre Mindaugas Černius.
Jeruzale Labour Market Training Centre marks its 48th anniversary
The Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre established in 1958 within the subordination to the then Ministry of Construction was the main centre for training future builders. Until the restoration of Lithuania’s Independence, it was the only such education establishment in Lithuania. The Director is very happy that the Centre has never been privatised, although wishes were great. Today, many are very surprised that large housing construction enterprises were destroyed, while the Training Centre survived.
During the long years of its existence, the Centre has developed good material facilities. The Training Centre has one of the best in Lithuanian welding rooms, joiners and repairs workshops. Although the Centre owns efficient teaching aids (video and audio equipment, slides, methodical books), facilities for training machine and crane operators could be better. With the help of AB Vilniaus kranai, the centre has equipped a special laboratory for training operators of tower cranes. All other teaching tools the Centre buys on its own.
Today, the Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre is a well-established organisation. Such a status has been achieved with the help of EU structural funds, winning of tenders of the National Labour Exchange, implementation of the projects of the Lithuanian Builders’ Association.
The Training Centre currently attaches great attention to reorganisation of its facilities. It is implementing five projects, one of which as been directly presented to the commission of the Lithuanian Ministry of Science and Education. The realisation of these projects will help to enlarge training facilities through buying new teaching aids, renovation of buildings, improving the training programme.
Large attention
to teaching quality
After restoration of Lithuania’s Independence, the Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre was subordinate to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. It was then when the centre implemented the first project in the field of professional training in cooperation with foreign partners – Vyborg city in Denmark (1992-1994). The Danish colleagues shared their methodology, equipped a classroom, invited the lecturers to Denmark to see how the Danish system of professional training worked.
Participation in the exchange programme (Leonardo da Vinci projects, 2001) showed that many employers in Lithuania understood training as issuing certification on safety at work and paid very little attention to employee’s knowledge. Is a decorator a good specialist if he does not know the composition of paint? The usual question in Lithuania is: how many documents are issued according to the national standards? The same question in Denmark, Germany, Scotland or any other country is put in another way: how many people with the competence corresponding to their education are trained? The Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre, seeking to go hand in hand with the EU training centres and prepare good specialists, gives great attention to the training process where educational and production practices make even 75-80 percent. Lectures in theory cover the subject of speciality, safety at work, fundamental economics, understanding the drawings. The future workers are taught not only theoretical subjects, they get practical training as well. The Director regrets that lectures in the language culture, Lithuania’s history, harm of alcohol and drugs are goals for the future.
The centre does not put any terms for the beginning of a course – any new volunteer may join the training process at once as he comes to the Centre and does not have to wait for formation of a separate group. Studies last 3-4 months. With the help of EU structural funds, modified 6 month programmes have been developed for preparation of builders, wood specialists, bricklayers, machine operators, etc. 75 percent of graduates of courses choose the work according to the speciality. It is usual that employers come to the Centre, talk to students, offer them jobs in their companies; some of them get work in companies where they have made their practical training.
People studying building are very open to novelties, eagerly listen to representatives of companies trading in building materials when they make presentations of their production in the Centre: explain which materials are the best, show them in practise and answer questions.
Training of a welder costs over 3000 litas, builder – 2.500 litas; preparation of a finishing specialist is financed from the EU structural funds and a course of 30 weeks costs 4000 litas.
The Director is convinced that the best solution is to replace tenders initiated by the National Labour Exchange with concrete projects. For instance, the winner of a project for bricklayer’s training could be an education institution that has offered the best quality and not the best price. It is very sad to see newly-established training institutions offering low price and not caring about training quality.
In the beginning of June, a conference What does quality mean? How to achieve it? will be organised. “How is it possible to train high qualification specialists in three or four months? It is the work of year and not months,” says the Director Vytautas Navickas. “The Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre is the institution that gives strong professional fundamentals and helps a person to find his place on the labour market.”
Combination of experience
and new ideas
“During the first years of independence, some people left and some stayed with our Centre. Young people eagerly participated in implementation of the joint project with the Danes. Various misunderstandings lasted a year and a half: the older staff could not accept changes and novelties introduced by young people, while the latter could not understand the opinions and attitude of older people who saw how the Center got established. Little by little we have succeeded in achieving the consensus and today we all follow the same goals, consult each other and respect each other opinions,” Vytautas Navickas speaks with pleasure about the staff of 50 people.
The Director is a man who cherishes nice traditions in the Training Centre, like celebration of birthday anniversaries and other festivals, offering people to go on probations and business trips. No less attention is directed to business-like conversations, team work and searching for the best work methods. The staff closely follows the motto of the Director: once you start a work, you must plan its end.
Foreigners’ training
The representation buildings in Lithuania, their qualitative finishing and decoration are well-known outside Lithuania as are achievements of Lithuanian builders and their work quality. The Jeruzalė Labour Market Training Centre is wishing to enter into cooperation with foreign training centres and has sent letters to embassies of the Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Poland and Estonia with the request to help finding partners in these countries.
Training of foreigners has already been discussed in the Lithuanian Builders Association. The Director has raised an issue of training of illegal immigrants, forming special groups and helping them to join the Lithuanian labour market as has been done in Demark. “So far, I have not received an answer. I would also be very happy to hear the Government’s opinion about improvement of the professional training structure.
“Moreover, there are very many fields that are covered by two ministries – Ministry of Education and Science and Ministry of Social Security and Labour. In implementing exchange projects with foreign partners, we lay all efforts to help our students to receive practical training abroad. In this case we face the language barrier and, to my opinion, additional financing should be granted for training foreign language skills. These are the issues that must be solved by labour exchanges,” the Director shared his ideas.

On 31 May 2006 the long-awaited jubilee exhibition of the sculptor Juozas Kalinauskas will be opened in Šv Jonas Gallery . The artist will present his creation in retrospect; will also show selected works of various genres.
“Many of the works clearly show my creative aspirations – harmony, musicianship, beauty, expression and meaningfulness. Be it any kind of work, it will never become a cliché; I do not accept destruction as well.
Moderate pastiche prevails in my creation.
Many of my medals are made in historic theme that usually dictates the artistic solution. Meanwhile the character of paintings is absolutely different from sculptures or medals… They show the impulsive nature of the moment and an unrestricted flight. I do not want to be fashionable, and the time will be the judger about what is valuable and what is not.”

Lina Kalinauskaitė was born in 1983 in Vilnius. She has finished M. K. Čiurlionis Art School and graduated Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts in fresco restoration. In 2004-2005, the artist took lessons at the professor in monumental art Aleš Vesely in Prague Academy of Fine Arts. These were the years when she started the cycle of self-portraits. On 31 May, the exhibition of L. Kalinauskaite's works will be opened in Šv. Jonas Gallery . The artist participates in group exhibitions and has arranged three personal painting exhibitions.
L. Kalinauskaite travels around Europe a lot, has visited the largest museums where she has carefully studied the heritage of the prominent masters.
The artist keeps to the traditional style of painting, sometimes using other forms of expression.
Self-portraits have been painted in the sub-theme of various genres: mythological, fantastic, symbolic, surrealistic and act type. Nicely made details show her scrupulous devotion to the art of creation.
L. Kalinauskaitė's works illustrate the sense of aesthetics lying deep in her subconsciousness.

The painter Remigijus Jusionis was born in 1956 in Kaunas. In 1980 he graduated the Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts. The painter is the member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association since 1997, participates in exhibitions arranged in Lithuania since the years of studies. The painter has arranged over 20 personal exhibitions. More than 500 R. Jusionis’ works may be found in private galleries. Today the painter lives and creates in Vilnius.
The artist says, “I enjoy painting archaic coats of arms. My pictures are the combination of urban images and realistic motives; I also try to make them “elegant” with the help of brighter colours, gilding, inserts of collage. I like using archaic motives: things, coins, maps and sea-washed wood… I do not collect my works and so in the run of time all of them find their true owners.”
The art critic Dr Danutė Zovienė, “Beautiful women live in gold cities of Remigijus Jusionis, knights’ tourneys are organised and butterflies fly in them, while towers of European cathedrals spring above the panorama of Vilnius…”