Zalgiris Kaunas is building a bridge between Lithuania and South Africa 0

c

Zalgiris is cooperating with Duzy Royals basketball team from South Africa for over a year. Zalgiris club immediately stressed that their goal is not only to find the undiscovered basketball talents, but also to attract sponsors from South Africa to Lithuania.

“The best way to learn something new and improve yourself is to teach others what you manage the best. That‘s what Zalgiris is trying to do. We should not forget, that South Africa is a completely new market in the basketball map, so there are many undiscovered basketball talents and business opportunities. Our plans are not only to have bilateral basketball training projects, such as joint events or friendly matches during pre-season. We also want to attract sponsors from South Africa,” said Zalgiris director Paulius Motiejunas.

He has already visited South Africa. By the way, Zalgiris delegated coach Darius Dimavicius to teach South Africans basketball secrets there for three months.

This time Zalgriis invited Mr. Anderson to Lithuania. He is the executive of the large South African engineering company.

“I like being here. It is not too cold. I believe that in February it would be a little bit different,” laughed the South African,who visited Kaunas in mid-November. “But I am fine here.“ He visited the War Museum, walked through the city. “I liked it. People here are very friendly and respectful. This is what I liked the most.”

The businessman from South Africa shared his vision of how South Africa could establish closer business relations with Lithuania. Mr. Anderson also distinguished the biggest advantages offered by Lithuania and spoke about fantastic Lithuanian beer.

– What was the aim of your trip to Kaunas?
– I am like Christopher Columbus, who came here to look around what you do and how you do it. To see whether there is any power that could link Lithuania and South Africa. We are interested in two branches – business and sport. In business, it is always possible to find connections. I visited some construction and shipping companies. I was surprised by Lithuanian food and drinks. Their quality is very high.

It would be really expensive to transport everything to South Africa. It would be better to open a factory in our country and to do business out of place.

50 million people live in South Africa. We are democratic country, the middle class is growing. South Africa is a very stable country. We can register a business within a couple of days from any location. Since everything is very simple and effective, many European investors are starting their business in our country.

It would be great to make contacts in Lithuania and then to communicate. I know it will be difficult to convince Lithuanians. But I am here and I came to look around. I came to see how you are working there and explain how is the situation is South Africa as well as to offer to come and look around in South Africa.

– Which European countries invest mostly in South Africa?
– There are many of them. Our country is rich in international recognition of first-class banks. It calms entrepreneurs. They take into account the banking system.
It also more secure to invest there, because after registration of any business, it will be under the supervision of South Africa.

– It is difficult to persuade Lithuanians to come to South Africa?
– Yes, it is difficult. But they need to get acquainted with our point of view and with the advantages we offer.

By the way, I know that Lithuania has a very strong traditions of beer brewing. I would really like to invest in South Africa in the Lithuanian brewery. And I know that there are many people who would like to do so. You are brewing experts. It would be great to work together. And this is what we are looking for – communication, cooperation. We are looking for people who are united by a similar attitude and want to work together.

We will give everyone a warm welcome. We are looking forward for people with open arms.

– Why Lithuanian business people hesitate to invest in South Africa?
– Mostly because of an unfamiliar market. The only way to convince people is to invite them to show all around. Believe me, in my country there are many business people from Germany, France or England, who came to South Africa and settled here permanently. What I can promise you there, it is South Africa’s good weather and friendly people.

But we also have much to be proud of. If we talk about sports – our stadiums, rugby, soccer, swimming… We have a good infrastructure.

After all, World Cup in 2010 took part in South Africa. We organized such a big event… The European basketball championship, hockey championship – it is not the same. I am a big fan of rugby, but in my opinion nothing compares to the football championship.

– Has the attitude of foreign investors after the World Cup in South Africa changed?
– Many people returned. It is such a shame, that Lithuania is not a country of football.

– However, we are magnificent in the basketball. What do you think about Zalgiris and South African cooperation in this domain?
– In South Africa the basketball is not that popular yet. The biggest problem is infrastructure. Basketball is a sport that takes place indoors. Here, in South Africa we have the sun and the open fields. People throw the ball on the ground and play football or rugby.

– Do you expect through Zalgiris to build the bridge between Lithuania and South Africa?
– This bridge is very long, but I think that we really will ‘merge’ it (smiling).