Baltic Treasury Association Holds First Networking Event in Lithuania

On May 8th, 2025, the Baltic Treasury Association (Baltrea) hosted its first networking event for corporate treasury professionals in Lithuania, held at Johnson Matthey in Vilnius. The event drew strong interest from CFOs, treasurers, and finance professionals, reinforcing the growing demand for a connected and collaborative treasury community in the Baltics.

Alexander Ilkun, Chair of the Baltrea Advisory Group, opened the session with an update on the association’s progress. The first four months of 2025 have been both productive and strategically important. Baltrea has formed key partnerships with several prominent institutions, including the UK’s Association of Corporate Treasurers, EuroFinance, TMI, CEE Treasury Forum, and Treasury 360. A major milestone was Baltrea’s acceptance as an observer at the European Association of Corporate Treasurers (EACT) annual summit and board meeting—a significant recognition of the Baltics’ growing presence in the European treasury landscape.

These achievements are closely aligned with Baltrea’s mission: to connect the Baltic treasury community and build relationships with international partners. Alexander also highlighted a range of benefits available to Baltrea members, including access to exclusive events, knowledge sharing, and cross-border networking opportunities.

The agenda continued with a presentation by Evaldas Balkys, Vice-Chair of the Baltrea Advisory Group, who offered insights on developing a treasury strategy in a “greenfield” market like the Baltics. Drawing from his global experience, Evaldas explored several core questions:

• When should a company carve out the treasury function from the finance organization?

• What should be the focus areas during the initial stages of establishing a treasury function?

• What is the role of treasury technology in enhancing efficiency, security, and control?

These questions echoed the interests expressed by attendees prior to the event and framed a thought-provoking discussion.

In the second session, Alexander Ilkun took participants through a detailed exploration of corporate cash management and the evolution of cash flow forecasting: from informal methods to AI-enhanced forecasting solutions. A live poll revealed that most companies still rely heavily on manual tools, showing a clear opportunity for digital transformation in the region.

He also addressed banking relationship management, sharing tips on how to balance service quality, cost-efficiency, and long-term value. Alexander concluded with a segment on working capital management, highlighting different strategies and challenges faced by SMEs versus multinational corporations.

Evaldas closed the event by extending heartfelt thanks to Johnson Matthey for hosting, and to Credeo for their support in promoting this first event in Vilnius. Lastly, the audience got a glimpse into our future plans and events:

• June 18 - Networking Event in Tallinn, hosted by Bolt

• September 12 - First Baltic Treasury Conference, Vilnius

• November 27 - Networking Event in Vilnius, hosted by SEB

Following the formal agenda, participants enjoyed a valuable networking session, fostering connections and sharing insights - an essential part of Baltrea’s mission to build community.

We were truly encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive feedback and look forward to continuing this momentum. Together, we're building a strong, engaged, and internationally connected treasury network across the Baltics.