Dear Subscriber,
After 200 years of non-alignment, Sweden officially joined NATO as its 32nd member on 7 March this year. The war in Ukraine was the driving factor for Sweden to end its military neutrality and take this bold step, which only some years ago would have been looked at as quite unthinkable.
With all four Nordic countries now part of NATO, the alliance's security architecture in the Nordic, Arctic, and Baltic regions is nearly complete. This development will intensify military collaboration both within the Nordic countries and with other NATO members, significantly impacting the Swedish defense industry. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated:
"Sweden will now take its rightful place at NATO’s table, with an equal say in shaping NATO policies and decisions. [...] Sweden brings with it capable armed forces and a first-class defence industry. Sweden’s accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer and the whole Alliance more secure."
For the first time as a NATO member, Sweden was represented by Minister of Defence Pål Jonsson at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defense summit, held in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June. Saab, a major player in Sweden's defence industry with a presence in Singapore since the 1980s, also participated in the summit. Chun-Chau Chew, Country Head of Saab Singapore, shares his insights on the event below:
"This year's Shangri-la Dialogue saw the participation of world leaders, defence ministers, military chiefs, academics and businessmen from 42 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and America. The war in Ukraine, conflict in Gaza, security tension in South China Sea and East Asia as well as US-China rivalry took the centre stage at the 3-day summit. Views and debates around the topic of international rules-based order and rule of law were discussed. The highlight of the summit was the appearance of President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. In his speech, he stressed how the support from countries around the world has helped Ukraine fight against aggressive attacks by Russia and urge countries to participate in the peace summit in Switzerland to show solidarity and commitment to peace. As a Singaporean, it was indeed an honour to play host to such an important and independent forum, contributing to peace and security."
Please find below the latest news from our business community.
Your dedicated SwedCham team,
Lisa & Anna |
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moving2singapore: moving2singapore is a personal relocation service provider offering customised concierge services to assist when relocating to Singapore.
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| 2024 Swedish Company of the Year |
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It is time to nominate exceptional companies and individuals for the 2024 Swedish Company of the Year and Swede of the Year Awards.
Take this opportunity to recognise a Swedish company and/or a Swedish individual who has made a remarkable footprint during the past year. Who do you think deserves extra credit for their work in Singapore and the region?
The winners will be announced and celebrated during the SwedCham Midwinter Ball at Sofitel Sentosa on 9 November this year.
The nomination criteria for the "Swedish Company of the Year" Award: This award has a broad scope - it highlights extraordinary accomplishments that can come in many forms. The winner can be a company with a great impact, social or financial, in the region. It can also be an innovative fast mover with huge growth potential and a great advocate for the Swedish brand or a mix of many factors.
The nomination criteria for the "Swede of the Year" Award: This is an important acknowledgement of an outstanding person from the Swedish community who has created a positive impact, either in Singapore or the region, through his or her work and dedication.
The deadline for nominations is Friday 16 August 2024. |
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Previous winners include: 2022 Swedish Company of the Year: Getinge 2019 Swedish Company of the Year: Scania 2019 Swede of the Year: Janek Schergen, Artistic Director, Singapore Ballet 2018 Swede of the Year: Annelie Nikou 2017 Swedish Company of the Year: IKEA 2015 Swedish Company of the Year: Envac 2014 Swede of the Year: Mikael Hartman, Associate Professor, NUS, and Head of General Surgery, NUHS 2013 Swede of the Year: Gunilla Daintry |
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Left: 2023 Swedish Company of the Year: Anticimex (recipients: Tony Hurst, President, Anticimex Asia; Mikael Nachmanson, CFO, Anticimex Asia)
Right: 2023 Swede of the Year: Swedish Supplementary Education School Singapore (recipients: Pernilla Hjelm Danielsson, former Chair, Svenska Skolan; Tobias Engblom, Chair, Svenska Skolan) |
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| Workshop on strategic foresight |
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Predicting the future in today's dynamic business landscape is challenging, but incorporating 'strategic foresight' can help integrate various scenarios into your decision-making process. This 90-minute workshop, organised by SwedCham's People & Culture committee and hosted by Hyper Island, will enhance your futurist capabilities with tools and techniques to navigate uncertainty and make better-informed decisions. Understand the business value of strategic foresight, cultivate a "futures mindset," and learn to seize disruptive innovation opportunities. Don't miss this chance to empower your team and shape your desired future.
Register for this free event here. Exclusively for SwedCham Members. |
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SwedCham's Young Professionals are organising a midsummer event on Friday 14 June at 6:30 pm together with Swedish companies Outfyt and Pixi at Outfyt's store on Haji Lane.
Curious about Midsummer? Discover more about this ultimate Swedish tradition via this link.
Register for this event here. |
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SwedCham's annual CEO luncheons took place over three days last week at Frantzén Group's stunning Brasserie Astoria. A cherished tradition among our senior leaders to get together to convene and exchange insights cross-industry.
Thank you to all who joined us!
ABB, Alfa Laval, Alimak, AstraZeneca, Atlas Copco, Axis Communications, Bromma, Business Sweden, DBS, Electrolux, GAC, Hexagon, Hyper Island, K2 Corporate Mobility, Jebsen & Jessen, Mannheimer Swartling, Monitor ERP, Nefab, Saab, Scania, SEB, Securitas, Siemens Energy, Spotify, Stena, Stora Enso, Trelleborg, Volvo Group, Westermo. |
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From left to right: Björn Stignor, Stena; Fredrik Hähnel, SEB; Boudewijn Pesch, Axis; Sofie Bager, GAC; Suyeon Kim, AstraZeneca; Axel Sundén, Securitas; Shushu Zhang, Bromma; Kevin Fiske, Electrolux; Gustav Back, Spotify; Chun-Chau Chew, Saab. |
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From left to right: Anna Engblom, Volvo Group; Amit Sinha, DBS; Per Magnusson, Jebsen & Jessen; Fred Hapiak, Nefab; KJ Tan, Trelleborg; Boon Choon Lim, Hexagon; Igor Vincetic, Electrolux; Emil Akander, Business Sweden; Shawn Ang, Monitor ERP; Elgin Lau, Atlas Copco, Jennie Borgström, Alfa Laval. |
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From left to right: Mikael Jidenius, Westermo; Thomas Vernersson, Alimak; Thorbjörn Fors, Siemens Energy; Magnus Fredriksson, Stora Enso; Jakob Ragnwaldh, Mannheimer Swartling; Daniel Nordberg, GAC; Oscar Wyckman, Scania; Jerrica Chooi, ABB; Peachy Pacquing, Hyper Island. |
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| Midwinter Ball 2024: Staycation, anyone? |
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SwedCham's Annual Midwinter Ball featuring the ABBA tribute band ABBAfab from Australia on Saturday 9 November at Sofitel Sentosa is set to be the party of the year!
Interested in elevating your party experience? Take advantage of exclusive Midwinter Ball hotel rates available from Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Sunday. For more information, zoom in on flyer to the right or contact Anna Landgren at SwedCham.
One Corporate Table still up for grabs! Single tickets will be released mid August. |
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Alfa Laval moving to new offices
Alfa Laval celebrated 50 years in Singapore by moving to brand new offices at The Metropolis! The new offices were inaugurated on 15 April this year in the presence of the Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore, H.E. Anders Sjöberg; Trade Commissioner Emil Akander and South East Asia & Oceania Cluster President Jennie Borgström and her team.
For you who would like to pay a visit to The Metropolis, look no further: Our next SwedCham Connect on 12 September will be hosted by Alfa Laval. Sign up now via this link to avoid disappointment - we will certainly have a full house. |
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New SwedCham member providing relocation services
Hej Louise Agartson, you are new SwedCham member with your newly launched company moving2singapore. Tell us about your business! Moving2Singapore is a concierge relocation company, dedicated to personalised service. We believe in customisation, not a one-size-fits-all approach, to help people relocate stress-free (as much as possible!). I advocate for a single point of contact for the client to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. Having relocated to Singapore myself, I know the do’s and don’t’s and I am happy to assist others in their journey! How long have you lived in Singapore, and what was your biggest challenge when you moved here? My young daughters, husband and I moved to Singapore from Sweden five years ago. Our challenges included everything from choosing schools for our daughters who didn't speak English, to find accommodation that ticked our boxes, and finding the perfect fit in a domestic helper. How can moving house and country become easier do you think? Moving countries is a big step, whether it's your first or tenth time. A new country means new rules, customs and everyday life. Having a dedicated person who knows how to navigate this transition can make all the difference. Letting her take overall responsibility for your relocation checklist - including everything from accommodation and school searches to finding a domestic helper and introducing you to social networks - is the closest thing to an insurance policy for a smooth transition. Not to mention saving you time and money!
You are a brand new SwedCham Member. Why are international chambers important in Singapore? The Chambers first and foremost facilitate essential networking and relationship-building. I am also looking forward to great market insights, seminars and for newcomers enhancing of cultural understanding. |
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EU Delegation in Singapore
Following the announcement that the 2024 edition of the EU-Singapore matchmaking event will take place in Singapore from 22 to 24 October 2024, a call for expression of interest to join the mission has been published on the website of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) here. This call is targeting cluster organisations and SMEs in the field of clean energy and green tech, e-mobility, sustainability in digital tech and energy transition financing from EU (and non-EU countries participating in the Single Market Programme / COSME Strand). The deadlines for applications are as follows: - 18 June 2024: First cut-off date for clusters
- 9 July 2024: Deadline for SMEs.
Svenska Skolan i Singapore
Svenska Skolan, the Swedish Supplementary Education School in Singapore, will launch a Swedish for Beginners program in August for children aged 7-15. To join, children must have at least one Swedish parent or a strong connection to Sweden. For more information, contact Svenska Skolan via their website here. |
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EuroCham
EuroCham is inviting SwedCham's members to a session on AI in Mobility and its Application in Fleet Management and Mobility on Demand on 13 June. This event brings together two of EuroCham's flagship programmes, Sustainovation and Artificial Intelligence, exploring the role of AI in mobility, its impact on fleet management, car park management, and its application in Mobility on Demand. Register for this event here.
Enterprise Singapore
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| Mix & Mingle: SwedCham's latest events in pictures |
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Axis Communications hosted a successful SwedCham Connect in May, drawing over 50 attendees to their stunning offices on the 41st floor of Suntec Tower One. With excellent wine, delicious food, and vibrant networking, it was the perfect way to spend a Thursday evening. |
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The Swedish National Day was celebrated a few days in advance on 2 June at the Singapore Polo Club. Over 100 guests attended this family event. Jenny Egermark, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Singapore, honoured us with a National Day speech. Attendees enjoyed a buffet dinner, Polestar test drives, and a traditional fiskdamm for the kids.
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Tuesday 3 September: Event with AI Singapore. More information will follow.
Tuesday 10 September: SwedCham Silver sponsor K2 Corporate Mobility will walk us through the Singapore Immigration Framework as it looks today. NB: Online event.
Thursday 19 September: EU-SG Digital Partnership / Free Trade Agreement, hosted together with the EU Delegation to Singapore, Embassy of Sweden to Singapore and Rajah & Tann. More information will follow.
Thursday 26 September: Professor Henrik Bresman, INSEAD, on the importance of psychological safety when building diverse teams. More information will follow.
Saturday 9 November: SwedCham's Annual Midwinter Ball at Sofitel Sentosa.
Wednesday 27 November: Market Outlook: Indonesia with H.E. Daniel Blockert, Sweden's Ambassador to Indonesia and Erik Odar, Sweden's Trade Commissioner to Indonesia. |
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