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News portal senior editor Rasa Lukaityte-Vnarauskiene announced voting results during the “Services of the Year” event.

“Among the candidates there were entrepreneurs from different eras: such as J. Vailokaitis, well known pre war era industrialist, businessmen from restored Lithuania days who successfully transitioned from Soviet planned economy to free market economy, such as B. Lubys, young generation of business people who started businesses in 21^st century, such as I. Laurs. I’m excited that Delfi readers elected Joseph Kazickas, because he was truly a remarkable person who contributed substantially to Lithuania’s economic growth and development. Right after restoration of Independence J. Kazickas brought to western business perception and values to Lithuania. Thanks to him, back then many global companies invested in Lithuania, which allowed our market to gain new development acceleration. Today we all use mobile services, what was started by J. Kazickas years ago and was a revolutionary technology breakthrough in our country. While celebrating Restored Lithuania’s 100, it is extremely important to Lithuania’s business community to honor entrepreneurs who contributed so much to Lithuania, to remember their investment into the business world we have today,” shared LVK (Lithuanian Business Confederation) president Valdas Sutkus.

J. Kazickas, who passed away four years ago, was considered the wealthiest Lithuanian diaspora entrepreneur. He founded “Neris International”, “Neris Coal Export” and “Neris Holding Company”. In 1991 he started private capital telecommunication company “Litcom”, first in the Baltic States. Thanks to Joseph Kazickas, major American companies such as “Phillip Morris”, “Coca-Cola” and “Motorola” invested in Lithuania. All his life J. Kazickas was dedicated to Lithuania’s independence restoration, consulting the Government, organizing meetings of the most influential leaders of US and Western Europe and bringing American foundations’ representatives to the Baltic States.

Jonas Vailokaitis (1886-1944), well known and one of the most wealthiest business people in the beginning of the 20^th century Lithuania was a runner up. Together with his brother Juozas they started brick and roof tiles company “Palemonas”, Lithuanian food export company “Maistas”, “Eksportas ir Importas”, “Cukrus”, “Urmas”. They also started private company “Metalas” that was the largest in Lithuania with a capital of 7.5 million litai in 1938. Jonas Vailokaitis together with A, Stulginskis, A. Dubinskas and P. Grajauskas founded “Ūkis” bank and initiated insurance company “Lietuva”.

Business people of this century, previous “Achema” group president Bronislovas Lubys and brothers Vizbarai, “Brolis Semiconductors” founders we also in the run. “Announcing J. Kazickas as a businessman of a century is no surprise. He was truly an honorable person who established businesses in the US with turnovers of billions brought many investors to Lithuania, philanthropist, big education supporter. It is exciting that people today value individuals who became history already, such as J. Vailokaitis and Jokubas Frenkelis. It shows the importance of country’s history and knowledge of pre-war commerce,” shared Zydrunas Damauskas, an initiator of “Lithuanian Business Person of the Century” contest and president of the public relations agency “Avenire”.

Many well known business people from different eras in Lithuania and abroad dedicated their lives and work to Lithuania’s progress and development of modern industry. Among the candidates there were first bank founders, patrons, various business starters, public activists, Lithuanians starting businesses in diaspora during the soviet times, and current successful entrepreneurs.

www.DELFI.lt

2018 m. gegužės 11 d. 16:34