“FINANSAI 2026”: ABOUT DECISIONS THAT CREATE VALUE – AND THE COURAGE TO SAY “NO”

How are the world, tax administration and business financing changing? Why are cash flows more important than profit, and how does “Žalgiris” win not only on the court? These questions were discussed by more than 300 finance professionals, business leaders and experts on October 22 at the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. The conference could also be watched live. The conference “Finansai 2026: Decisions That Create Value” was organized by the Kaunas Finance Professionals Club and the Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts. Opening the event, the Chamber’s Vice-President Vytis Arlauskas noted that finance professionals very often say the word “no”. And precisely because they know how to say “no”, their “yes” carries so much weight. This thought returned several times throughout the day. A welcoming address was also delivered by Aušra Joniūnienė, Head of the Kaunas Finance Professionals Club, while the event was moderated by Chamber Council member Vaida Butkuvienė and Dr. Rytis Krušinskas.

The world is changing – let us change too

Economist and Head of Investments at “Orion Securities” Marius Dubnikovas began with the bigger picture: historically, wars have been the norm and peace rather the exception, which is why geopolitics is now an everyday factor for investors. Speaking about investments, he pointed out that Europe is strong in defence, robotics and energy. His message to the audience was clear – we must change our attitude towards change.

Dr. Martynas Endrijaitis, Head of the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI), spoke about how tax administration is changing. In 2027, the Inspectorate will focus its oversight on higher-risk sectors – trade, manufacturing, construction and the digital environment – and will increasingly base its decisions on data and artificial intelligence. This also promises simpler services for businesses: VMI plans to respond to some inquiries within one day, while tax filing should become easier.

Do we still have the hunger?

Elena Leontjeva, President of the Lithuanian Free Market Institute, raised the question of whether Lithuania still has enough of the hunger and ambition that drove our economic growth for so long. According to her, motivation does not need to be created – the most important thing is not to suppress it, while growing prosperity brings a new risk – complacency. Therefore, public policy should also be assessed by the incentives it creates for people and businesses. After the coffee break, Rolandas Juteika, Head of “Revolut Securities Europe”, showed how technology is changing everyday business financial management. Payments, investing and expense control are becoming increasingly automated, and artificial intelligence is becoming an assistant to finance professionals. According to the speaker, this allows businesses to focus more on decisions rather than routine tasks. Viktorija Čijunskytė, CEO of “Profitus”, spoke about where businesses can find capital for growth. According to her, good debt finances growth, while bad debt finances problems, so it is important not only to obtain financing but also to assess whether it will create more value than it costs. Alongside bank loans, businesses today can choose crowdfunding, debt funds or bonds.

Money, discipline and victories

Giedrius Jakubauskas, Chief Financial Officer of “City Service SE”, reminded the audience that profit shows whether a business earns money, while cash flow shows whether it can pay. He spoke about a culture of cash management, group treasury and the possibilities of artificial intelligence in forecasting cash flows. He suggested a simple first step for participants – calculate how many days the business’s money remains tied up and how much each such day costs.

The conference concluded with a conversation with Paulius Jankūnas, President of Kaunas “Žalgiris”, and Asta Kazickienė, Head of Finance at “Žalgiris Group”. The speakers emphasized that financial discipline had enabled the club to grow its budget to the largest in its history, and that financial and sporting ambitions go hand in hand. It was a fitting end to the day: sometimes saying “no” at the right time makes it possible to say “yes” to bigger goals later.

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank all speakers, moderators and participants. Special thanks go to the general sponsor TG Filters – thank you for your support. We also thank the main sponsors Financier and UAB “Gražina Buckiūnienė ir partneriai”, as well as the partners: Vytautas Magnus University, ACONITUM, UAB “Lietlinen”, AUTOTOJA, VšĮ “Terra Publica”, UAB “Choco Group”, SIP SAP Birch Cuvée and UAB “Tango Print”.

Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts

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