The Vilnius-Kaunas region is responsible for just over half of Lithuania’s GDP and inward investment. The two cities registered a joint GDP of €7.9bn in 2002, up 8.9% in from the previous year. In the same year, €1.4bn of inward investment was committed to the region.

Among the most significant foreign investors are Motorola, Statoil, McDonald’s, Amber Teleholdings Consortium (owned by Telia of Sweden and Sonera of Finland) and Sweden’s SEB Group.