Editing Foreign relations of Israel (section)

=== Lithuania ===
{{Main|Israel–Lithuania relations}}

Israel recognized Lithuania's independence in 1991. Both countries established diplomatic relation in 1992. Israel has an embassy in [[Vilnius]]. Lithuania has an embassy in Tel Aviv and two honorary consulates (in Herzliya and Ramat Gan). Relations are warm and friendly between the two nations and both bi-national trade and tourism has doubled, and two new regularly scheduled flights have just been set between the two countries since 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jpost.com/Business/Business-News/Growing-Lithuanian-business-ties-beget-political-support-332417 |title=Growing Lithuanian business ties beget political support |date=20 November 2013 |access-date=2 April 2014 |author=NIV ELIS}}</ref>

Lithuanian achievements, particularly Lithuania's achievements in biochemistry and the biosciences have attracted Israeli entrepreneurs and investors to invest in Lithuania's science and technology sector and Lithuania is enthusiastic in combining Israel's knack for unlocked untapped entrepreneurial and intellectual potential combined with Lithuania's strong science and technology research base and talented workforce. Both nations have concluded an agreement on cooperation in industrial research and experimental development as further cooperation within venture capital to fund joint research projects remains underway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mita.lt/en/news/all_news/lithuanian-israeli_cooperation_agreement_promotes_the_development_of_innovation_ |title=Lithuanian-Israeli cooperation agreement promotes the development of innovation |date=19 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227093224/http://www.mita.lt/en/news/all_news/lithuanian-israeli_cooperation_agreement_promotes_the_development_of_innovation_ |archive-date=27 December 2016 |access-date=30 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="Dovilė Jablonskaitė">{{cite web |url=http://www.lrt.lt/en/news_in_english/29/10384/lithuania_israel_south_africa_untapped_potential |title=Lithuania – Israel – South Africa: Untapped potential |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=2 April 2014 |author=Dovilė Jablonskaitė}}</ref>

Bilateral meetings between both nations reached unexpected highs between 2009–2011 and cooperations between the two nations remain excellent with several forms of cooperation that include science, economics, education, and culture as emphasized by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has stated Israel as model of innovation in which is one of the reasons that Lithuania is interested in enhancing its bilateral relations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170495#.UzzOqkIvla0 |title=Peres in Lithuania Highlights Reasons for Strong Ties to Israel |date=August 2013 |publisher=Israel National News |access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/30728/#.UzzOqkIvla0 |title=Lithuania and Israel reach a new level of constructive partnership |date=7 March 2012 |access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_states_cis/?doc=78545 |title=Grybauskaite: there are many perspective areas in which Lithuania-Israeli relations could be expanded |work=The Baltic Times |date=31 July 2013 |access-date=2 April 2014 |author=Danuta Pavilenene}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.15min.lt/en/article/world/relations-between-lithuanian-and-israeli-youths-should-be-strengthened-says-head-of-litvak-organization-529-357440#ixzz2xn1ESivK |title= Relations between Lithuanian and Israeli youths should be strengthened, says head of Litvak organization Skaitykite daugiau|access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref>

In 2011 alone, Israeli tourism to Lithuania grew by 62 percent, and Lithuanian exports to Israel increased by 54 percent. Israel's leading pharmaceutical company, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, has a manufacturing plant in Lithuania and TEVA recently invested in "Sicor Biotech", a Lithuanian biotechnological pharmaceutical company, further signifying economic cooperation and encourages the development of such sciences as biotechnology and genetic engineering in Lithuanian universities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.15min.lt/en/article/world/audronius-azubalis-lithuania-and-israel-are-similar-529-201708 |title=Ažubalis in Jerusalem: Lithuania and Israel are simila |publisher=en.15min.lt |access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref>

Israeli companies have taken a very active interest in possibilities for carrying out clinical research in Lithuania; many of them are already in cooperation with Lithuanian medical institutions and have invested in Lithuania's burgeoning life sciences sector. In 2013, Lithuanian biotechnology company ProBioSanus signed a representation agreement with Bharat Israel where ProBioSanus' natural, probiotic-based cleaning and personal care products will be available for sale in Israel for the first time. The company already opened stores in Lithuania and Scandinavia. Mr Andrejauskas, head of ProBioSanus spoke of this agreement saying that "We have a strong scientific base and intellectual potential in Lithuania, so we are allocating particular attention to the creation of new formulas and products."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lsb2014.com/en/news/lithuanian-biotech-start-up-enters-the-israeli-market-with-the-help-of-enterprise-lithuania/ |title=Lithuanian Biotech Start-Up Enters the Israeli Market with the Help of Enterprise Lithuania |publisher=Life Sciences Baltics |date=10 June 2013 |access-date=2 April 2014 |author=Jorūnė Juodžbalytė |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904081716/http://www.lsb2014.com/en/news/lithuanian-biotech-start-up-enters-the-israeli-market-with-the-help-of-enterprise-lithuania/ |archive-date=4 September 2015 }}</ref> Besides Israeli investments in the Lithuanian life science's sector, Lithuanian presence in Israel in the food industry remains strong as Israeli supermarkets sell Lithuanian cheese, curd desserts, Vilnius mayonnaise, Žemaitijos Pienas butter, Panevėžys ice cream, Švyturys-Utenos Alus beers and various styles of Lithuanian liquors. According to Vadimas Ivanovas, a business and financial analyst at Enterprise Lithuania, says that Israeli retail chains are very interested in Lithuanian sweets, pastries, canned vegetables, various sauces, alcoholic beverages, mineral water. "Veal is particularly popular."<ref name="Dovilė Jablonskaitė" />