by Mr. Sigitas Brazinskas
Lithuanian Development Agency
(Not edited by ITC)

From the middle of this summer, the Lithuanian government started actively to develop new programmes and laws according to new opportunities and challenges brought about by the digital economy.

On 30^th June, the government presented the new programme under the name "e-wind". It was announced by the Premier Minister that "information becomes as business" and all information related to the government has to be obtained on Internet. The new e-government proposal will create a system facilitating payments on Internet for services related to tax inspection, customs, social insurance, and will establish a register system.

On 11^th July the new law for electronic signature was approved and is expected to come into force next year.

The Lithuanian Development Agency, which is responsible for implementation of the public sector's export development strategy, has made a series of recommednations based on new opportunities. On 6^th September the new export strategy (2000-2002) was approved (updating the earlier strategy approved on 29^th October 1998).

The updated strategy involves such actions as:

• Creating of virtual exporters community for education on Internet;
• Extension of current exporters database with access on Internet;
• Creating national e-commerce strategy;
• Using new technologies for obtaining of trade information.

Still the lack of knowledge in e-business area makes a noticeable impact on both the number of companies connected to Internet and the quality of their e-commerce strategies. Web-sites have note become an effective marketing tool delivering value to customers.

E-CRM (customer relationship management) has to become the company's main objective if it is to compete successfully in the a worldwide market in which new technologies bring no distance, no time limits and big business opportunities.