MADRID, SPAIN, June 6, 2001 – As announced today at the World Business Forum in Madrid, the website of the Lithuanian Development Agency was recognised as world’s No.1 among investment promotion agencies in the annual evaluation of top 100 sites by Corporate Location magazine of the UK publishing group Euromoney Plc, which gave the Lithuanian agency the Best IPA Website Award for 2001. The website has been designed, engineered and maintained by Metasite, the leading e-business professional services company in Lithuania, in close collaboration with the LDA staff.

“This award means international recognition for the capabilities and expertise our consultancy provides”, said Aldas Kirvaitis, Metasite CEO. “We have been supplying some of the largest Lithuanian business entities with advanced e-business solutions since 1998. Metasite holds the leading position in the local market, and we have a lot of experience serving foreign-run companies. Exposure in the World Business Forum will allow us to pursue new business opportunities outside of Lithuania, and we are well prepared to follow that path.”

Vytas Gruodis, Director General of the Lithuanian Development Agency, received the award during an official ceremony at the World Business Forum in Madrid on June 6th.

The assessment of all the world’s IPA websites is based on criteria such as structural logic, functionality, ease of use, downloading time, quality and timeliness of information etc.

The recent #1 ranking follows earlier achievements: #4 in 1999 and #2 in 2000. Before the redesign was started by Metasite in 1998, the LDA website ranked #34 in the same Top 100.

In 2000, Corporate Location’s review said: ‘Lessons on how to keep a website simple yet dynamic can be learned from the Lithuanian site. There is no clutter to detract you from valuable investment information, which is up-to-date and concisely put. There is a Newsline on the homepage, which although in-house, is current and relevant. The site admirably covers Lithuania’s country profile, business and investment climate, the legal environment, key sectors, foreign trade and links and resources. Department links make following up information simple and you can request pamphlets and publications online.’ The site also features an interactive business opportunities forum, which has become a virtual trade information exchange for both Lithuanian and foreign businesses.