Dear Subscriber,
Midsummer takes place in June and is a celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It is one of the most celebrated holidays in Sweden. A maypole is created and raised during the day, which people gather around to dance and sing. Many people pick flowers and create flower crowns which they wear throughout the day.
In good old Swedish style, SwedCham is now easing into our summer break for the month of July. But we will be back. Most of our Q3-4 calendar is already booked up so it will be a very busy end of year period with events such as how to do corporate venturing in Singapore, a new format of SwedCham Connect, Japan market outlook, how to invest in tech, how to think around sourcing, how industrial companies should manage distributors, how AI is changing branded content, a new local outreach initiative, APAC CEO talks, a midwinter gala dinner and much more.
We wish everybody who is heading for their summer break, a relaxing and joyful holiday.
Please find below the latest news from our business community.
Your dedicated SwedCham team,
Lisa & Anna
Reach us at info@swedcham.sg
Photo: Anna Hållams/imagebank.sweden.se |
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SwedCham welcomes the following new member to its business community:
Åre Water: Åre Water offers a natural mineral water tapped directly from the certified Åre Source, a groundwater reservoir, found in the well-preserved surroundings of Northern Sweden. Key contacts: Anette Friman, CEO, and Camilla Hall, Co-founder. |
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| #candidongender won gold! |
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The winners of the 21st edition of PR Awards Asia were announced last week and we are delighted to let you know that SwedCham Member Dilucidar won GOLD in the category Corporate Publications for its creative conceptualisation and execution of the SwedCham initiative #candid: 100 Perspectives on Gender Equality in Singapore. The publication brought SwedCham members and the Singapore public together to drive real change, with 28 companies now pledging to #DoubleUp paternity leave for over 5000 employees in Singapore.
PR Awards Asia, led by Campaign Asia-Pacific and PRWeek Asia, is one of the most prominent awards in the region for PR. Its mission is to put the spotlight on the region’s top brands, PR professionals and consultancies, and to celebrate work that is truly world class.
A huge THANK YOU to Dilucidar and the dedicated team of SwedCham member volunteers and sponsors who made the 100+ candid stories a reality.
For more information on this initiative, click here. |
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| 2022 Swedish Company of the Year |
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It is time to nominate exceptional companies and individuals for the 2022 "Swedish Company of the Year" and "Swede of the Year" Awards. These Awards go back many years, and, after two years of pandemic break, SwedCham is delighted to once again be able to launch the nomination journey.
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 the Goodwood Park Hotel on 5 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 19 August 2022.
Previous winners include: 2019 Swedish Company of the Year: Scania 2019 Swede of the Year: Janek Schergen, Artistic Director, Singapore Ballet 2017 Swedish Company of the Year: IKEA |
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| SwedCham Connect @ < your company >? |
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SwedCham Connect@1880 has been the waterhole that took us through the pandemic. Over the past two years, lock-downs aside, we have been able to meet up for casual networking in groups of five, and lately in groups of ten, at this exclusive Members' Club by Robertson Quay.
As the event sells out in hours every month, we are pleased to announce that from September, we will be moving SwedCham Connect from 1880 to our Member companies' premises. With this new concept, we will give our Members the opportunity to connect with our business community on their own turf in a casual setting, whilst giving everyone a good night out. A networking event and a company study visit, all-in-one. What a great way to start the weekend... |
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Save the date for our launch on Friday 30 September at 6:30-8:00 pm: SwedCham Connect @ Electrolux
Are you interested in hosting a SwedCham Connect at your company's offices? Send us an email at info@swedcham.sg and let's discuss. |
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| The Midwinter Ball is back! |
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The Midwinter Ball will be back on 5 November 2022. Held annually since 1985, SwedCham's most extravagant and lavish event of the year has a long tradition in Singapore. After a two year covid break, we are honoured to yet again be able host 200+ guests in what without doubt will be the feast of the year. Following a long tradition, we will also hold the Award Ceremony for The Swedish Company of the Year and The Swede of the Year during the Midwinter Ball - more information on the award nomination in the beginning of this newsletter.
The theme of the Ball will, very timely, be The Roaring 20s - a decade synonymous with profound political, economic, and social change, as much in the 1920s as in the 2020s... Get your flapper dresses, bobbed haircuts, pinstriped suits and fedora hats ready.
VIP and Corporate Tables are on sale now, contact SwedCham's office for more information. Status: VIP Tables - SOLD OUT; Corporate Tables - 3 LEFT. Single tickets will be available from end August. |
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In May, SwedCham hosted three sold-out CEO Luncheons for 30 leaders in total over three days at Flutes Restaurant. It is clear that getting together in an informal, cross-industry setting to discuss and share among peers in smaller groups is something valued highly by our company leaders. Despite restrictions now allowing us to meet in larger groups, this is a pandemic concept which we will keep. |
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Left to right: Mats Nilsson, Volvo Bus; Emil Akander, Sweden's Trade Commissioner to Singapore; Ihab El Dessouky, Dynapac; Kaj Rosander, Saab; Vinod Narayanan, AstraZeneca; Björn Stignor, Stena; Boudewijn Pesch, Axis; Sean Gowran, Sinch; Peter Rydberg, Bromma; Sofie Bager, GAC. |
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Left to right: Benjamin Swedberg, SEB; Enrique Patrickson, Electrolux; Raymond Lam, Pagero; Philip Eriksson, Austen Maritime Services (Stena); Thomas Vernersson, Alimak; Nellie Wartoft, Tigerhall; Jerrica Chooi, ABB; Bengt Jönsson, DS Global; Chantharan Ramasamy, Cavotec; Horst Wasel, Atlas Copco. |
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Left to right: Anna Engblom, Volvo Trucks; H.E. Kent Härstedt, Sweden's Ambassador to Singapore; Johan Zander, Stena Bulk; Hannes Valtonen, EQT/Baring; Daniel Nordberg, GAC; Petra Schirren, Ericsson; Rajesh Sreenivasan, Rajah & Tann; Arne Kloosterman, Westermo; Jakob Ragnwaldh, Mannheimer Swartling. Missing: Adam Cich, Electrolux |
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| Female mentorship grand finale |
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A couple of weeks ago, SwedCham hosted the Grand Finale for its cross-industry Female Mentorship Program and its 21 pax strong mentee cohort. It was a celebratory event which showed that this program, which was aimed at rising female stars within SwedCham's member companies, has not only created a lot of energy and inspiration, but perhaps first and foremost a lot of friendship.
The program, which was launched in October 2021, focused on the following: - Creating a solid cross-industry network and a professional sounding board for female rising stars in SwedCham’s business community
- Raising the bar for female leadership development in Singapore
- Promoting Swedish leadership values and strengthening ties between Swedish companies in Singapore.
We are currently evaluating whether to kick off a 2nd edition of this mentorship program in Q4 this year. If your company is interested in participating with either mentees or mentors, or both, please reach out to SwedCham's office. |
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| Business Climate Survey 2022 |
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Join us on 31 August for the launch of the Global Business Climate Survey 2022, presented jointly by Business Sweden and Swedish Chambers International (SCI), and hosted at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.
The annual survey captures the perspectives of Swedish companies operating worldwide and reflects their views on economic developments, success factors, local conditions and sustainability challenges.
Based on data collected from more than 1,600 employees at Swedish companies in 22 markets, the report is a valuable source of knowledge for how to succeed abroad. Speakers at the hybrid event: - Anna Hallberg, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs
- Jan Larsson, CEO, Business Sweden
- Andreas Hatzigeorgiou, President of Swedish Chambers International (SCI)
Panelists at the hybrid event: - Christofer Laurell, Senior Vice President, Research and Public Affairs, Einride
- Johanna Landgren, Head of Impact Banking, Doconomy
- Paul Palmstedt, Head of External Corporate Communications & Affairs, Electrolux
- Kamshat Galiyeva, General Manager, Epiroc, Brazil
- Barbara Nel, Country President: African Cluster (SA, SSA & FSA), AstraZeneca.
Date: Wednesday 31 August Time: 1:00-2:30 pm Swedish time / 7:00-8:30 am SG time Place: Regeringsgatan 29, Stockholm and online (if you chose to participate online, you will receive a link closer to the event day)
For you who would like to attend in-person, registration opens and lunch will be served from 12:30 pm.
Register for this event here. |
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| Healthy living with Try Swedish |
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Business Sweden’s Try Swedish Export programme that supports export activities in the food and beverage industry invites you to discover all its delicious offerings! Focusing on promoting Swedish products, the programme offers a variety of healthy and tasty products through its store on RedMart – Singapore’s leading online grocery retailer.
In line with the Wellness Festival Singapore, it is currently showcasing all the wholesome food and drinks in its repertoire. From nutritious baby food to naturally clean water and oat milk, the range features a host of organic, sustainable, and nutrient-packed flavourful products.
And to welcome the upcoming Swedish midsummer, Try Swedish also offers exciting liquors and fizzy tonics reminiscent of a Swedish summer and celebration – produced locally in Sweden with sustainable products.
Do you have any questions about the Try Swedish export program or the Try Swedish shop-in-shop at RedMart? Send an email to malin.benselfelt@business-sweden.se, Project Manager for Try Swedish in Singapore. |
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Are you interested in investment opportunities in Sweden and collaborations that will help build a smart society and accelerate the race towards net zero? Join us in Stockholm or digitally on 20-21 June to see how international companies can invest, expand, collaborate, and improve global competitiveness while turning the big ideas from industry, science, technology, and governments into reality.
The Join Sweden Summit 2022 is a physical event organised by Business Sweden which will be supported by a complementary digital broadcast. The Summit will bring together leaders and game changers from academia, politics, industry, and innovative environments to explore Sweden's investment potential and opportunities to pioneer the possible.
For the detailed program and to register, please click here. |
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Thursday 8 September: Corporate venturing in Singapore with Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Electrolux.
Thursday 15 September: Market Outlook: Japan with Business Sweden.
Friday 30 September: SwedCham Connect @ Electrolux.
Wednesday 5 October: Distribution management for industrial companies with Thomas Vernersson, President Industrial Division APAC at Alimak Group.
Saturday 5 November 2022: Midwinter Ball, Goodwood Park Hotel. Theme: The Roaring 20s.
Tuesday 22 November: SwedCham APAC CEO Series with Mats Rahmström, President & CEO, Atlas Copco. |
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