VILNIUS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis officially invited on Monday major foreign retail chains to invest in Lithuania amid efforts to boost competition at the country's retail sector and bring prices down.
Skvernelis signed an invitation letter to 12 major foreign retail chains to expand to Lithuania.
"The Prime Minister is inviting potential investors to consider the prospects of expanding their operations and start operations in Lithuania," the spokesman of the PM Tomas Berzinskas told local media.
He didn't disclose the names of the invited companies, noting the list includes retail chains operating in Europe and elsewhere.
The move comes amid the government's efforts to boost competition and bring prices down at the country's retail sector currently dominated by few major retail chains.
Last month, the government pledged to introduce a package of measures boosting competition, including more scrutiny on contracts between retail chains and their suppliers, cutting red tape to smaller enterprises.
The PM also supports the idea of restricting shopping centers' opening hours to boost competition and support smaller shops.
Local business analysts have criticized the idea of inviting foreign retail companies and at the same time considering restrictions to the retail chains.
