Lithuania is seeking to sell high-quality products to Israel, according to a press release from Lithuania’s Agricultural Ministry.

The rural business and market expansion agency Litfood and the Lithuanian embassy to Israel held a virtual business meeting so Lithuania’s food-processing enterprises could present their products to Israeli businesspeople.

Deputy ag minister Paulius Lukševičius said the food industry has unused opportunities for export to Israel. Last year Lithuanian agriculture and food exports to Israel hit 45 million euros. Compared to 2019, it grew 50 percent. Israel occupies 28 on Lithuania’s list of 155 major export partners.

Mainly Lithuania sends wheat to Israel as well as cheese, curds, wheatgerm, ice cream and canned vegetables.

“That’s certainly not the complete assortment of products which Lithuania can offer the Israeli market. We can do much much more,” Lukševičius said.

Israel’s picky consumers demand especially high quality and Lukševičius said that means high-quality Lithuanian products could find a niche there.

The Lithuanian Agriculture Ministry noted that while the statistics show greater export of ag and food products over the last several years, trade with Israel hasn’t been developed very much as compared with other countries.

“This country is still an untried market for many of our business sectors. That includes life sciences, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, furniture, lasers and other high-tech branches of industry,” the press release stated.

The rural business and market expansion agency Litfood defines priority export markets for Lithuanian ag and food products. It focuses on innovative food products which have greater added value because of ecological production. Currently the main instruments for encouraging export are international food and drink fairs and business delegations. The agency also looks at targeted events, presentations and tasting sessions to determine the needs of retail networks in a given market.