The consulate should be opened in São Paulo, the Foreign Ministry said in a draft resolution. A consulate in Brazil is necessary since Lithuania's current diplomatic representation in South America no longer satisfies the need, as the embassy operating in Argentina represents Lithuania in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.
"The diplomatic representation no longer reflects the latest tendencies of global development, region's economic and political matters. Brazil is the most influential country in the region, has the 5th-largest population in the world and is a country of rising power," reads the press release.
According to the communiqué, the consulate will be beneficial for development of economic relations, as the imports structure of the Brazilian market is consistent with Lithuania's exports structure.
Furthermore, São Paulo has a strong Lithuanian community. According to informal data, about 250,000 people of Lithuanian origin reside across Brazil.
The consulate general would be established from the Foreign Ministry's budget and would include two positions: a diplomat and a contract employee. Establishment and upkeep of the consulate in São Paulo in 2012 would require 436,200 litas (EUR 126,400).
