THE IMPACT OF DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN LITHUANIA

Direct foreign investment, regarded as one of the factors of economic development, has always been considered an important condition, encouraging productivity, international trade and economic growth. Under the conditions of globalisation, direct foreign investment is becoming one of the most important factors, determining economic integration of the country in global markets. The volume of direct foreign investment in the country reveals attractiveness of the country for international market and economic relations with other countries that determine the volume of international trade. Direct foreign investment enables reduction of the lack of capital or other resources and provides the access to advanced technologies, new market niches for a particular product and innovative work organization and management methods. Despite that, scientific literature proposes different explanations of the benefits of direct foreign investment. Possible influence and links between direct foreign investment and international trade (export and import) is still being debated.