Dear Subscriber,
International Women's Day 2025 has just passed, but celebrations and activities continue throughout March. Earlier this month, SwedCham joined a very well organised cross-chamber event hosted by the Belgium Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce with most European chambers to honour IWD and its message, focusing on this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’.
While women remain underrepresented in top business roles - both globally and in Sweden - this year we can celebrate Sweden's ranking as #1 in The Economist's Glass Ceiling Index for 2025. Sweden topped the list of 29 OECD countries, excelling in labor-force participation, salaries, parental leave policies, and women’s political influence. Notably, over 82% of women in Sweden are active in the workforce, and women hold nearly half of all managerial positions.
Here’s a thought: while more female business leaders are important, could what the world needs most right now be more female negotiators in peace talks? We leave you with this video from the World Economic Forum, which, despite being a few years old, offers some interesting perspectives.
Happy IWD month!
Your dedicated SwedCham team,
Lisa & Anna
Photo: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay |
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| SwedCham's new Board of Directors |
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On 13 March, SwedCham hosted a fully booked Annual General Meeting at The Standard Hotel, a brand new boutique hotel in the heart of Orange Grove. In addition to electing a new Board of Directors, we had the privilege of hearing from Dr Taimur Baig, Chief Economist of DBS Bank, who served as our guest of honour and keynote speaker for the evening. Dr Baig delivered an impressive 360-degree view of the global economy in just about 35 minutes, sharing his insights on Asia, America, and Europe.
Election news from SwedCham's Board of Directors:
A warm welcome to our brand new Board Members:
Along with our eight re-elected board members and two non-elected members, we indeed have a very strong team in place to govern our organisation throughout 2025.
We would also like to say Thank You! and På återseende! to Sofie Bager and Björn Stignor, who have now left our Board after many years of service. |
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For you who attended the AGM and want to hear more from our key note speaker Dr Taimur Baig, tune in to Spotify for his podcats Kopi Time with Taimur Baig. |
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| Can Nordic leadership thrive in Asia? |
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Can Nordic leadership, with its emphasis on collaboration, empowerment, and flat organisational structures, be effective in Asia? And how can Asian leaders improve communication vis-a-vis their Nordic HQs to gain more influence and recognition?
The business environment in Asia presents unique challenges that require sensitivity and adaptability. Asian countries often have distinct leadership hierarchies and communication practices that differ from the more egalitarian approaches common in Nordic countries. On Thursday 3 April, Toby Karlsson and Seiyi Goh, Senior Partners at Korn Ferry, will visit SwedCham to share research insights and perspectives from their extensive experience in working with senior leaders in both Asia and the Nordics.
This session will offer leaders the opportunity to discuss how to adjust leadership strategies to better align with Asian counterparts while maintaining core values. Nordic leaders will learn to balance collaboration with respect for local hierarchies to enhance success in the region. Additionally, we will explore how Asian leaders are perceived by Nordic HQs, emphasising the importance of cross-cultural understanding for improved collaboration and business outcomes.
Register for this event here. |
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| Navigating Taiwan's value chain shifts |
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As businesses face re-shoring, geo-political uncertainty, and sustainability pressures, Taiwan’s evolving value chains present both challenges and opportunities. Over the past five years, Taiwan has seen major changes, particularly in semiconductors, sustainable energy, and regional production strategies.
Join Martin Vercouter, Market Manager at Business Sweden Taiwan, for an insightful Market Outlook on Taiwan’s shifting value chains.
Register for this event here. |
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| Next HR roundtable coming up |
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SwedCham's People & Culture committee invites all HR leaders from our member companies to join us on 11 April at 8:15-10 am for the next P&C roundtable, which will be hosted by Tetra Pak.
Hong Ming Lin, HR Country Services Leader APAC & Site Director Singapore at Tetra Pak, will take us through the company’s journey of re-construction, which has taken place over the past few years. She will share the challenges this transformation posed to the organization, as well as how the team overcame them by adopting a people-first approach, with a strong emphasis on the wellbeing of all employees.
Would you like to join this roundtable? Contact Lisa Ferraton at lisa.ferraton@swedcham.sg. |
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| Connecting cultures, inspiring careers |
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UPDATE: Nearly 70 teams are now registered for this unique SwedCham initiative, representing NTU, NUS, SMU, SIT, SUTD, all ITEs, all Polytechnics, Universiti Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Mark your calendars for 12-13 April and come and join us at OTH to witness the action at what is set to be this year's biggest and boldest Brand Sweden event in Singapore. With 15 Swedish flagship companies on board and an impressive line-up of industry leaders speaking, you won’t want to miss it. Have a look here.
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Be a part of Sweden Open, Singapore's first-ever career and sports fusion event featuring the Swedish game of floorball - 'innebandy' in Swedish - on 12-13 April 2025 at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).
Swedish companies are globally recognised for the way they do business. Our world-renowned MNCs and SMEs drive progress through curiosity and forward-thinking approaches and by creating solutions that benefit people and the planet. SwedCham is leveraging Sweden's global reputation for innovation to forge a groundbreaking platform that connects sports, Swedish corporate excellence, and Singapore's emerging talent. Sweden Open serves as a next-generation career fair, providing a unique platform for young talent in Singapore to connect with Swedish companies.
Floorball, a nationally beloved sport originating in Sweden in the 1960s and introduced to Singapore by Swedish enthusiasts in the late 1990s, has since become a rapidly growing phenomenon in Singapore. The Sweden Open 2025 celebrates the cultural bond between Sweden and Singapore, united by their passion for this sport. This prestigious event provides a unique platform for Swedish companies to engage with Singapore’s brightest talents, fostering collaboration and innovation in an extraordinary setting.
With two days of sports, company showcases and career insight, we are opening the doors for exchange. Join us and showcase your business mission, values, and career opportunities while fostering cultural exchange between Sweden and Singapore.
If you are keen to get more information about this initiative, reach out to Lisa Ferraton at lisa.ferraton@swedcham.sg. |
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| An evening with Team Europe |
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This month, SwedCham is proud to host the Team Europe networking evening, part of a monthly series held by European Chambers to celebrate SG60 throughout 2025. We are thrilled to welcome you to Polestar Space, the Singapore home of Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car brand committed to accelerating the shift to sustainable mobility through cutting-edge design and technology, on Thursday 27 March.
Join us for an evening of networking and engaging conversations with the European business community and our Singaporean partners, as we celebrate many years of successful collaboration between our countries.
Register for this event here. NB: We are almost sold out. Only 10 tickets left until we have reached our max capacity of 100 guests. |
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| Lynxeye Purpose Index™ 2025 |
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Since 2015, Lynxeye has measured the progress of the world's most purposeful companies and brands annually. The Lynxeye Purpose Index™ includes 550 large companies in eight markets, including the world's six largest economies, and a total of 17,000 respondents. In Sweden, the 50 largest companies are ranked according to the Purpose Index™, which indicates how purpose-driven and future-relevant they are.
Download the full report here. |
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Är du en svenskspråkig kvinna i Singapore? Tveka då inte att gå med i SWEA.
Vi anordnar många sociala event varje månad - allt från träning till afternoon tea. Det finns något för alla! Besök gärna vår hemsida och läs om alla aktiviteter och hur du blir medlem. Välkommen!
Ordförande SWEA Singapore |
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| Overseas exposure for your employees? |
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Would you like to support your SG employees to get an international experience, either at your HQ or in another country market? Workforce Singapore (WSG) has launched the Overseas Markets Immersion Programme (OMIP) to support local and foreign companies sending SG employees overseas for growth. This is also part of the Government’s commitment to build a globally competitive workforce by enabling more Singaporeans to gain overseas experience.
As a global hub, companies in Singapore seek expansion opportunities overseas and require employees with market experience, local knowledge, and the ability to work across teams. Through OMIP, companies can send local employees with little or no overseas experience abroad for exposure and skill development, helping build a globally-minded workforce.
Participating companies will collaborate with WSG’s Programme Partner, Singapore Business Federation, to create tailored training plans. These may include on-the-job or classroom training, based on company needs, with at least 6 months of overseas relocation in one identified country. OMIP will provide support for 70% of salary and 70% of overseas allowance for up to nine months, capped at $5,000 and $3,000 per month respectively. In total, companies can receive up to $72,000 for each eligible individual that they send for an overseas posting. For more information, use the QR code in the infogram below.
Struggling to engage your SG employees in overseas postings? Expat Advising is partnering with Workforce Singapore's OMIP to help companies maximise its benefits. Whether encouraging Singaporean employees for overseas assignments or supporting those pursuing international careers, Expat Advising has a proven track record across ASEAN, the Nordics, and beyond. Contact them at neha@expatadvising.com. |
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Friday 11 April: HR roundtable hosted by Tetra Pak and SwedCham's People & Culture committee.
Tuesday 6 May: H&M on adapting to the business landscape in Asia. More information will follow.
May 14, 15 & 16: SwedCham hosting its annual CEO luncheons at Brasserie Astoria. By invitation only.
Saturday 15 November: SwedCham's Annual Midwinter Ball at Shangri-La. |
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Wednesday 26 February: Singapore Budget 2025, a co-organised event hosted by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
Tuesday 11 February: C-level roundtable discussion on de-carbonising the supply chain, hosted by DBS. By invitation only. |
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