Sweden mobilising efforts to boost global competitiveness and foreign trade

On 19–21 November, HM The King paid a State Visit to Singapore at the invitation of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Sweden’s Government was represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson, State Secretary Håkan Jevrell from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and State Secretary Miriam Söderström from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. Around 50 Swedish companies, government agencies and higher education institutions took part in the business delegation arranged by Business Sweden.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard spoke at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore on 20th November 2024. During this IISS Raffles Lecture Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard talked about strengthening Cross-Regional Security: Sweden and the Indo-Pacific. Check against delivery.

On 17–18 October, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Sweden to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, regional security and global issues. Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard hosted the visit, which is an important step in strengthening the ties between the countries – not least by exploring new opportunities for cooperation in business and innovation.

On 16 September, the Swedish Government received the Government of Finland for a joint government meeting. The aim was to further strengthen the deep cooperation between the two countries. It also provided an opportunity for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ two new ministers to welcome their Finnish counterparts for the first time. Support to Ukraine and support to innovative scale-ups were the focus.

On 10–11 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell will travel to Berlin to take part in the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference together with Business Sweden’s CEO Jan Larsson and Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Jakob Granit. This year’s conference will focus in particular on the important role of the private sector in reconstruction, the importance of international cooperation and the human dimension. During his visit to Berlin, Mr Forssell will also meet with the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze. He will also visit the German Vattenfall office.

Speech by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell on the occasion of Africa Day. Egyptian Embassy, Stockholm, 28 May. Check against delivery.

Today, Nordic heads of government signed a joint declaration on the future of Nordic competitiveness, growth and security. The declaration was signed in connection with the Nordic summit hosted by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on 13 May in Stockholm.

On 2–3 May, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Olatunbosun Tijani visited Sweden at the invitation of Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. The purpose of the visit was to discuss opportunities for enhanced cooperation on innovation, digitalisation and telecommunications.

On 2–3 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will be in Copenhagen to attend this year’s Nordic-African Foreign Ministers Meeting. The agenda includes peace and security, multilateral cooperation, reform of multilateral institutions and increasing trade and investment.

On 13–14 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will host the heads of government of the Nordic countries and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a summit in Stockholm.

On 9 April, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell gathered leading actors in Team Sweden for a high-level meeting. The aim was to jointly foster better conditions for improved global competitiveness and foreign trade, and bolster Sweden’s position internationally. The Government organised the meeting to discuss the work already in progress and the joint path forward.

Sweden is a leading donor of development assistance, but meeting the funding needs for a green and digital transition requires closer cooperation between development assistance and trade, greater mobilisation of private capital and harnessing the business sector’s innovation capacity. A current example of this is Sweden’s partnership with Bangladesh, which HRH Crown Princess Victoria visited together with Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell on 18–21 March.

The strategy for Sweden’s trade, investment and global competitiveness was presented on 1 December 2023.

The visit to California will take place on 19–22 February together with Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. A business delegation led by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in cooperation with Business Sweden will also take part. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel’s official visit is taking place at the request of the Government. The aim is to broaden and develop relations with California in the areas of innovation, green transition and emerging technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The new Swedish Consulate-General in San Francisco will also be inaugurated in connection with the visit.

A Swedish Consulate-General will open on 1 January 2024 in San Francisco, and its areas of responsibility will include the states of California and Hawaii. The Consulate-General will enhance Sweden’s presence on the west coast of the United States, and the possibilities to conduct active trade and promotion of Sweden’s activities, as well as provide consular support.

The Government has adopted a new trade strategy, with the objective of giving Swedish businesses the best possible conditions to both address emerging challenges and of harness business opportunities that arise in the green and digital transition.

Opinion piece of 30 November 2023 by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell.