Arminta Saladžienė receives the Swedbank Baltic Sea Award 2009

Arminta Saladžienė, Chairman of the Management Board of NASDAQ OMX, Lithuania, and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the newly established Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance has been honoured with the Swedbank Baltic Sea Award 2009 for her work regarding good corporate governance in the Baltic States.

The winner was announced yesterday by Håkan Berg, Head of Baltic Banking at Swedbank, at a dinner in connection to the Baltic Development Forum Summit in Stockholm. Swedbank Baltic Sea Award is assigned to an individual or organization that has made an extraordinary contribution to the development of the Baltic Sea Region. Arminta Saladžienė was selected among many qualified candidates for her work and commitment to the region. Part of Saladžienė’s important efforts is to support the newly established non-profit initiative Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance, which aims at raising awareness of good corporate governance in the Baltic States, as well as educating and certifying professional board members. “With this price, we want to stress the importance of the work to improve corporate governance. Good corporate governance practices lead to better companies and, in turn, better and more progressive societies”, said Håkan Berg, Head of Baltic Banking at Swedbank. “We must recognise talents and their importance. In a globalised world, the ability to attract, develop and retain talents will be crucial for the Baltic Sea Region’s competitiveness and future prosperity, said the Chairman of the Baltic Development Forum“, the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen. It is the third time the Baltic Sea Award is handed out; in 2007 it was dedicated Mr. Björn Carlson, Founder of Baltic Sea 2020, for his great personal involvement for improving the environment of the Baltic Sea, and last year to the President of Finland Tarja Halonen, for her longstanding focus on the common good for the Baltic Sea Region. The jury has consisted of Swedbank’s Chairman Carl Eric Stålberg, the Baltic Development Forum’s Chairman Uffe Ellemann-Jensen and Sweden’s Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. The Prize sum is € 5 000. For further information: Peter Nygårds, Head of Public Affairs, Swedbank, phone: +46-70 690 16 00 Hans Brask, Director, Baltic Development Forum, phone: +45-60 21 85 81 See rationale as follows: Swedbank Baltic Sea Award 2009 – Rationale A symbol of Baltic Sea talent The Baltic Sea Region is gifted with many talented young people. Not least in the Baltic countries, young people have assumed immense responsibilities in a very early stage of their carriers and have done very well. It has almost become a symbol of the dynamism and energy of the Baltic States from which the neighbouring countries can learn a lot. Particularly in times of political and economic troubles, we need talents that can serve as role models in finding new ways into a brighter future. We must recognise talents and their importance. In a globalised world, the ability to attract, develop and retain talents will be crucial for the Baltic Sea Region’s competitiveness and future prosperity. If talents and experts are not recognised, they will find other and more appreciated environments. This year’s Swedbank Baltic Sea Award goes to a successful business woman, who is both Chairman of the Management Board of NASDAQ OMX Vilnius and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance: Arminta Saladžienė. Arminta Saladžienė has taken upon her to support the newly established Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance. It is a non-profit initiative, which aims at raising awareness of good corporate governance in the Baltic States, as well as educating and certifying professional board members. The tutors come from all parts of the region to share their experience and knowledge in corporate governance. The aim is to improve the understanding of good corporate governance and the value of adhering to established principles within this area. Good corporate governance practices lead to better companies and, in turn, better and more progressive societies. When one of the declared goals of the institute is to find greater financial sector stability, we can only but give her our full support. Arminta Saladžienė was selected among many qualified candidates nominated after an open invitation. By awarding Arminta Saladžienė this prize, we would like to express our appreciation of her talent, work and commitment to the Region.