MAY 8

  • 9:00 - 13:30 PM
  • Sapieha Palace, L. Sapiegos str. 13

BUILDING
THE FUTURE
OF FINANCE

13th European Banking & Finance Conference

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The 13th Annual Banking and Finance Conference, organized by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania in partnership with TGS Baltic and the Embassy of Sweden, brings together top financial experts, policymakers, and business leaders to explore the evolving financial landscape.

This year’s theme focuses on how current geopolitics and economic growth challenges shape the financial sector in an increasingly competitive global landscape, with a particular spotlight on Lithuania.

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Date and venue:

8th May 2025 at Sapieha Palace (L. Sapiegos st 13, Vilnius)

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MEET THE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

LUKAS SAVICKAS
Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
Minister of Economy and Innovation, Member of Parliament, proud husband and father, irreparable optimist and enthusiast of green, innovative and digital economy.
HÅKAN JEVRELL
State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
Håkan is the State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, overseeing foreign trade and investment promotion. With a background in diplomacy, law, and defense, he has served as Sweden’s Ambassador to Singapore and Taiwan, as well as State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence. Holding a Master of Laws from Stockholm University, he has also worked as a prosecutor and legal advisor, with experience in municipal governance and the Swedish Navy.
LARS WAHLUND
Ambassador of Sweden to Lithuania
Lars Wahlund is the Swedish Ambassador to Lithuania since 2023. He has previously served as Ambassador in Dublin, Ankara and Skopje and has also served at the embassies in Maputo and Bonn. Ambassador Wahlund has a law degree from University of Uppsala, Sweden, and University of Minnesota, USA.
JEANETTE VITASP, CFA
Vice-President and Head of Lending, Nordic Investment Bank
Jeanette Vitasp is a Vice-President and Head of Lending at the Nordic Investment Bank (“NIB”) and is a member of its executive committee.In this role, she is responsible for the Lending portfolio of over EUR 23 billion, leading the Lending operations, portfolio management and strategy, with a clear mission to finance investments that improve productivity and benefit the environment in the Nordic-Baltic region.Prior to joining NIB in 2023, Jeanette was Chief Customer Officer for Danske Bank, Sweden Branch. She formerly held the roles of SVP, Head of Global Corporates and Head of Nordic Healthcare Sector at Danske Bank, and was prior to that Head of Capital Markets Originations, Sweden, at Nordea. Jeanette has more than 20 years of corporate banking and 10 years of corporate treasury experience from Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the US, covering Northern Europe and the Americas. She is a CFA charterholder and has a M.Sc. in Business & Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics.
EIVILĖ ČIPKUTĖ
President of the Lithuanian Banking Association
Economist dr. Eivilė Čipkutė was appointed President of the Lithuanian Banking Association in 2020.Previously E. Čipkutė worked as a senior policy advisor at the European Investment Fund office in Brussels, Belgium. She also served as senior advisor to the World Bank's Office of the Executive Director of the Nordic and Baltic Countries at World Bank's headquarters in Washington, D.C., USA.Before continuing her career in international institutions, E. Čipkutė worked at the Lithuanian Ministry of Finance, where she headed the Financial Markets Policy Department, was the board member and chairperson of several state-owned companies.Moreover, E. Čipkutė represented Lithuania in the Committees of the EU Council and the European Commission, dedicated to Finance and Banking.E. Čipkutė has obtained master's degree in international business at Georgetown University in the USA and has defended her doctoral dissertation in the field of social sciences and economics at Vilnius University.
DAINIUS VILČINSKAS
CEO of the National Promotional Bank ILTE
Dainius Vilčinskas is a finance professional, currently serving as the Chairman of the Board and CEO of the National Promotional Bank ILTE. His career in banking spans 19 years, mostly at Swedbank, where he held leadership roles, including heading Baltic business banking operations​.
VYTENIS ŠIMKUS
Investment Strategist at Swedbank
Vytenis Šimkus is an Investment Strategist at Swedbank with over a decade of experience in finance and economics, specializing in the analysis of monetary and fiscal policy and financial systems. He provides insights on macroeconomic trends and market dynamics, helping investors navigate an evolving financial landscape. A dedicated communicator on finance and investments, Vytenis regularly shares his expertise through articles, presentations, and media commentary.
RŪTA GUCU
Head of SME Financing and Advisory Department at SEB
With over 20 years of experience in banking, I have a mission to help Lithuanian business grow from the first year being a reliable partner and advisor.
HÅKAN JYDE
CEO at Scania Ukraine
Håkan Jyde is responsible for the Swedish truck maker Scania's operations in Ukraine. Scania never left the country in spite of having its head office occupied by Russian troops. Instead Scania has increased its activity and made new investments to support logistics and transportation, areas that have proved to be crucial during the war. Håkan Jyde has more than 25 years of experience from international truck business and before he moved to Ukraine he spent a significant part of his career in Lithuania, Russia and various CIS countries.
TOMAS KAIRYS
Head of the Baltic States at EBRD
Having the overall responsibility for the Bank’s projects in the three Baltic countries, Tomas Kairys leads implementation of EBRD’s strategy in investment operations and policy reform engagement with the business community and the governments. Tomas joined the Bank in 2006 from the private sector, has diverse debt and equity product, sector and geographic background having worked across many of the Bank’s countries of operations from London HQ as well as Turkey and China. Tomas is a Lithuanian national. He also a has legal background and holds degrees from University of Cambridge and Vilnius University.
ANDRIUS SOKOLOVSKIS
Co-Founder of BeMyBond, CEO at Sound Asset Management
Andrius Sokolovskis is co-founder of the licensed digital bond platform BeMyBond and CEO of Sound Asset Management, a licensed asset management company focused on launching private debt funds with the scope to provide financing to SMEs and MidCaps in the Baltic States. During his more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector and professional corporate banking, Andrius has held various leading positions at Nordea Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Andrius was also an independent member of the Management Board of Valstybės Investicijų Valdymo Agentūra UAB (VIVA) and Chairman of the Investment Committee of Pagalbos Verslui Fondas (PVF) – the largest state-owned private debt fund in the Baltics.
ŠARŪNAS ŠIUGŽDA
Founder and Managing Partner at LitCapital
Šarūnas Šiugžda brings over 20 years of experience in private equity and growth capital investments. He has played a key role in supporting and scaling mid-market companies across the Baltics. Prior to founding LitCapital, Šarūnas held leadership roles at Askembla, Consolis Group, and Arthur Andersen.
GERDA SAKALAUSKAITĖ
Investor Relations & ESG Manager at LitCapital
Gerda Sakalauskaitė has a robust background in finance, investments, and international affairs. She has held roles at the Lithuanian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association, Invest Lithuania, and the Ministry of Finance
LINAS ARMALYS
CEO and Founder of Noviti Finance
Linas leads Noviti Finance, which is one of most active corporate lenders in the region (LT, LV and PL markets), focusing on companies up to 10 employees. Noviti Finance has over 2000 corporate customers and it is an active partner of EIF, EBRD and local state agencies.

MEET THE MODERATOR

Vilius Bernatonis
TGS Baltic
Vilius Bernatonis is the Managing Partner at TGS Baltic. He has more than 20 years of practice providing legal services in the areas of banking and finance, energy, international judicial dispute, corporate and commercial law. Vilius works with major local and international banks and provides consultations to companies of strategic importance on financial matters. He regularly participates in conferences as a speaker or moderator on topics of finance, the economy and banking.

Programme

8:30 – 9:00 Registration & Coffee

I SESSION

GEopolitics & Finance in turbulent times: adapting to a changing world 

Vilius Bernatonis / Moderator

9:00 open remarks

Lars Wahlund / H.E. Ambassador of Sweden

Lukas Savickas / Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania;

9:15 – 9:35 TBC

Håkan Jevrell / State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade

9:35 – 9:55 Nordic-baltic region – What’s next?

Jeanette Vitasp / Vice-President and Head of Lending, Nordic Investment Bank

9:55 – 10:15 A tale of two financial systems

Vytenis Šimkus / Investment Strategist at Swedbank

10:15 – 10:45 Panel discussion “Geopolitics and its Impact on Future Investments”

 Jeanette Vitasp / Vice-President and Head of Lending, Nordic Investment Bank
 
Håkan Jyde / CEO at Scania Ukraine
 
Håkan Jevrell / State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
 
Tomas Kairys / Head of the Baltic States at EBRD
 
Vilius Bernatonis / Moderator
 

10:45 – 11:05 coffee break

II SESSION

TUrning challenges into opportunities: financial solutions for businesses 

11:05 – 11:25 Traditional vs Alternative financing: where should we draw the line?

Rūta Gucu / Head of SME Financing and Advisory Department at SEB

11:25 – 11:45 THe financial Sector’s esg Journey: Latest trends

Eivilė Čipkutė / President of the Lithuanian Banking Association
 

11:45 – 12:25 Panel Discussion “beyond banks: How alternative financing is reshaping business growth in lithuania”

Andrius Sokolovkis / Co-founder of BeMyBond, CEO at Sound Asset Management
 
Šarūnas Šiugžda / Founder and Managing Partner of LitCapital
 
Linas Armalys / CEO of Noviti finance
 
Gerda Sakalauskaitė / Moderator
 

12:25 – 13:05 Fireside chat with Dainius vilčinskas

 
Vilius Bernatonis / Moderator
 
13:15 closing REMARKS

Tickets

Exclusive and limited amount of live-seats are available for sale on a first come, first served basis.

ticketS
member price

129 EUR

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non-member price

149 EUR

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