Who are we?

The Association of Lithuanian Trade Enterprises (ALTE) unites almost forty Lithuanian and foreign capital retail and wholesale trade companies, registered in the country. Total annual turnover from trade of the members of Association amounts to approximately 8 billion Litas, which is 60 percent of the turnover of all Lithuanian trade enterprises. The Association of Lithuanian Trade Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the Association) has been recognized as an influential organization, developing the trade business of the country. The representatives of the Association are involved in the work groups of the Seimas, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, and other state institutions of the Republic of Lithuania, working out the suggestions for the legal acts in connection with business regulation, they discuss and comment the newly framed or improved draft legal acts. The Association initiates the cooperation between the members and associated business structures, colleges, as well as business controlling institutions of the country, actively responds to the changes in business environment and conditions, dictated by the market, as well as mediates on behalf of the non-governmental organizations and business companies in the initiation of the cooperation projects.

When and why we established?

The Association started up its activities in 1997. After six years as of restoration of independence of Lithuania, the establishment of an organization, uniting the trade enterprises, was determined by the following objective conditions: promotion of the national and international trade services as well as investments, removal of obstacles, preventing from the development of trade, as well as creation of favorable business environment. Encouraged by such a need, several businessmen, who have represented the at that time big trade chains („Pas Juozapą“, „Vilniaus prekyba“, „Eko“, and „Troja“), as well as several individual traders founded the Association of Trade Enterprises. Just after foundation, the Association has become an active member of business society and public space, analyzing the problems of business development, giving suggestions to the authorities concerning the regulation of legal trade sector, and working out the projects that improve business environment. The position of a professional mediator between business and authorities, business and non-governmental organizations has enabled the Association to efficiently develop the cooperation with other non-governmental institutions as well as make long-term relations with the international organizations of the trade sector. The activities and achieved results of the Association of Lithuanian Trade Enterprises promoted the development of the trade sector both inside the country as well as on the markets of the neighboring countries.

Purpose of our activities

§ To promote the domestic and international trade services as well as investments;

§ To remove the obstacles, preventing from the development of domestic and international trade, as well as create favorable business environment;

§ To promote the implementation of market economy system, based on the principle of free and fair competition;

§ To coordinate the activities of the members of the Association, represent the members of the Association, and defend their interests in the state institutions, public organizations, other institutions and organizations, as well as ensure other public interests in connection with trade business;

§ To organize the events on business development matters, give recommendations to the authorities and non-governmental organizations, as well as develop international relations;

§ To develop the public spirit and social responsibility of business society.

The associated structures have higher influence in discussing significant political matters, opposing, and making decisions, since it has a bigger number of mandates.