Mr. Eric Huang, Representative and Head of The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania, announced on April 18, 2023, that the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), which is established by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement Taiwan’s international cooperation projects, will provide 7.65 million EUR into a loan package of 38.23 million EUR by the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Vilniaus viešasis transporta (VVT), the urban transport company of the City of Vilnius. The loan package will finance the purchase of up to 91 old trolleybuses, replacing part of VVT’s aging fleet of trolleybuses, most of which have been in operation for more than 20 years.
“Vilnius is a vibrant green city. As a like-minded friend of Lithuania, Taiwan supports Vilnius’ vision in becoming the European green capital. Taiwan is proud to be a key partner of EBRD. Taiwan’s contribution in this blended loan package enabled the overall feasibility of this project,” said Mr. Huang. “It is also the first loan that TaiwanICDF collaborated with EBRD under EBRD’s High Impact Partnership for Climate Action framework.”
The loan will be used for replacing part of the old trolleybuses of Vilnius, with first deliveries expected from 2024. The city currently has a fleet of around 250 trolleybuses. The replacement will also help reduce CO2 emissions from Vilnius’ public transport system.
The project is also the trigger project for Vilnius to become the first Baltic city to join in EBRD’s Green Cities Programme. The Programme is dedicated to promote sustainable future for cities in areas covered by EBRD by offering them customized Green City Action Plans (GCAP) collaborated by the cities and international experts. Taiwan is also evaluating possibilities in providing resources to Vilnius’ potential Green City Action Plan.
“Taiwan is committed to strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with Lithuania. In addition to high value-added industrial technology cooperation projects in semiconductor and laser, and continuous operations of Taiwan’s investment and loan funds based on bilateral basis, Taiwan will also find suitable opportunities of cooperation with Lithuania through multilateral settings,” explained Mr. Huang.
On 18 April 2023, Director of Infrastructure Europe of EBRD Susan Goeransson and CEO of VVT Darius Aleknavičius signed a loan agreement for the financing of the purchase of up to 91 trolleybuses. Additionally, Susan Goeransson and the City of Vilnius represented by Director of Vilnius City Municipality Administration Lina Koriznienė signed a Public Support Agreement in regards of the project, including Vilnius to become an EBRD Green City. The signing ceremony took place at the Vilnius City Municipality, with Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius and Representative and Head of the Taiwanese Office in Lithuania Eric Huang in attendance.
