Dear Subscriber,
Coloured feathers on birch twigs are a common sight in Swedish homes during Easter. This tradition dates back to the 19th century, with the purpose to speed up the arrival of spring. As Sweden is approaching spring and and summer, SwedCham is happy to announce that we have a new Board of Directors in place for 2023-24, duly elected during our AGM on 8 March.
Sweden has one of the highest numbers of MNCs per capita in the world, and to have many of these global enterprises as members is something SwedCham is both proud of grateful for. The new Board certainly reflects many of these global brands, and we are looking forward to working together with them over the coming year to fulfil and advance SwedCham's mission: To promote the interests and the value propositions of the Swedish business community in Singapore.
SwedCham's impact grows with every Member. Happy Easter to all of you!
Please find below the latest news from our business community.
Your dedicated SwedCham team,
Lisa & Anna
Photo: Lola Akinmade Åkerström/imagebank.sweden.se |
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SwedCham welcomes the following new member to its business community:
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| SwedCham's new Board of Directors |
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SwedCham proudly presents its Board of Directors for 2023-34: |
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| Connect with Stena in April |
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SwedCham's Main Partner Stena is inviting our business community to their offices on 20 April for a SwedCham Connect, a casual After Work where we will also get the chance to learn more about one of Sweden's largest family owned businesses and how it envisages growth in the region over the coming years. Join us for a great night out. Only a few tickets left.
Limited to 50 pax. Exclusively for SwedCham Members. Register for the event here. |
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| An economist's view on China |
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We are delighted to welcome back to SwedCham on 3 May SEB's Head of Asia Strategy Eugenia Fabon Victorina who in this session will take a deep dive with us on China. The main focus will be on China's recovery from a macro economic perspective and how the country's government policy may evolve throughout the coming year.
Register for this event here. |
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| Cross-chamber networking galore |
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Women's Networking Series
On 18 April, the Irish Chamber of Commerce and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Singapore will be hosting our next women's networking event.
In the beautiful outdoor surroundings of the L'Espresso Terrace at Goodwood Park Hotel, our Members will have another great opportunity to connect with professional women's networks from a number of international chambers of commerce in Singapore.
Register for this event here. |
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SME Meet & Pitch AW
SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups - if you are tired of polite small talk at Chamber events and just want to get down to business, here is an event for you: On 17 May, 11 international chambers in Singapore are getting together for a meet & pitch event where the sole focus will be on talking business and circulating. A friendly and informal "speed dating" event where you might find a new client, supplier, business partner, mentor - or just a new friend.
Register for this event here. |
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| IWD 2023: W4W puts the spotlight on #MeToo |
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To mark the International Women's Day 2023, SwedCham's Women4Women Forum, together with the Embassy of Sweden and 12 international chambers in Singapore, screened the movie SHE SAID on 1 March at The Projector, attracting an audience of more than 80 people.
The movie tells the true story about the two journalists who broke the silence around sexual abuse in Hollywood, which not only impelled a shift in culture around the world that continues to this day, but also served as a launching pad for the #MeToo movement, shattering decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment.
An open mic discussion led by policy expert Neha Thakkar followed the movie screening. |
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On 22 March our business community had an opportunity to get some perspectives on what's going on in the tech industry right now from four of our most seasoned Singapore-based Swedish investors and entrepreneurs. During this session, we covered topics such as the recent bank crisis and its impact on the tech ecosystem, the race to dominate generative AI - and where its role should be in society - as well as some deep dives into the lives of an entrepreneur, both when it comes misconceptions and day-to-day job tasks but also why one chooses to build a business in Southeast Asia instead of Sweden.
Although the recent banking crisis has definitely put some major sticks in the wheels for most tech companies, there was a clear consensus that the easy access to funding, low interest rates and massive market liquidity we have seen over the past decade had to go. Rising from the ashes will be those tech companies with solid business plans and a clear path to profitability. There are still plenty of opportunities out there for those with great ideas and solid plans for how to grow those ideas into successful businesses.
Thank you SEB for letting us host another full-house event at your beautiful offices. |
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| Tetra Pak's beverage cartons take new formats |
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SwedCham Partner Tetra Pak was one of the first members to join the Green Innovation Centre (GIC) initiative as our Sustainability Committee launched the idea almost four years ago. Through the highs and lows of this journey, which includes a global pandemic, the company has remained a strong supporter of this project.
As we are now approaching the launch on 8 June, Tetra Pak's contributions to the Cosy Garden's Green Innovation Centre are starting to materialise in very real terms: Last week the polyAl roof - 100% made from recycled beverage cartons - arrived in Bukit Batok. The roof will be fitted on top of the outdoor living room which will be built inside the garden over the coming weeks. New planter boxes made of recycled beverage cartons are also ready for delivery. Tetra Pak's business partner Len Meng Engineering has constructed a whole fleet of polyAl planter boxes for Cosy Garden, as well as push-trolleys in which the planter boxes can be fitted to make it easier for elderly and the physically impaired to get involved in garden activities.
This week, we are also proud to announce that the GIC initiative has got its 13th company sponsor: SwedCham Partner Securitas. More about them in our next newsletter. |
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The Green Innovation Centre in brief
Through this unique collaborative initiative, sponsored by 13 SwedCham companies, we have linked arms with a garden community in Bukit Batok as well as with South West CDC and the People's Association in Bukit Batok. Based on a collaborative bottom-up process, the project is aiming to support the community in exploring a sustainable urban lifestyle with knowledge, solutions and services around the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) and green living (gardening and connecting with nature). SwedCham's team is partnering with schools, sustainability-focused local SMEs and resident volunteers to create an agora at this garden, which has been lovingly built by local volunteers over the past decade, where people of all ages can meet and learn about sustainable urban living. The project includes, for example, to build a therapeutic corner in the garden for elderly and physically impaired and to create an activity area for knowledge development workshops for people of all ages. For SwedCham’s Sponsors, there are opportunities to get involved in 3R activity workshops (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle), staff volunteering, improving the garden concept with smart tech solutions, mentoring/engaging with local SMEs - or just to sponsor a good cause.
We hope that this program will replicate and initiate more people and companies to engage in this important work in Singapore. Through partnership and collaboration between businesses and communities, we have no doubt that the SG Green Plan can be successful. The GIC will be launched in the beginning of June.
If you are a SwedCham Member interested in finding out more about this initiative, please do not hesitate to reach out to us on info@swedcham.sg. |
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Our emerging GIC partner network: |
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VALBORG
Valborg, or Walpurgis in English, will be celebrated properly in Singapore this year, thanks to Restaurant Hemlig and Tied Allicance. For you who would like to celebrate the arrival of spring like the Swedes do, join the party on 30 April at Tanjong Beach, Sentosa. And for you who have no idea what Walpurgis is all about, have a look here. Register for this event here.
SWEA
(for Swedish speakers) SWEA firar 35 år i Singapore! Det firar vi med en hejdundrande fest som sent kommer att glömmas. Räkna med en kul kväll, många skratt, god 3-rätters middag, musik, dans, Lucky draw och ett rejält party! Ta med din respektive eller kom själv till Restaurang Palermo lördagen den 22 april klockan 18.00. Bli medlem och stöd SWEAs verksamhet. Läs mer om jubileumsfest och SWEA medlemskap här.
BUSINESS SWEDEN
On Tuesday 18 April, Business Sweden will host a session in Stockholm, Sweden, on growth opportunities in South and South East Asia and how Swedish companies can tap into growth across the region. More information about this event can be found here.
EUROCHAM
The European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore last week published the results of its survey on what impact escalating rental prices have on the European community in Singapore. The full report can be downloaded here. |
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| New Swedish restaurant opening in Singapore |
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Frantzén Group has announced the opening of Brasserie Astoria in Singapore later this year. The international brasserie will open in the iconic Victoria Theater & Concert Hall with roots in the 1800s. The concept of Brasserie Astoria was introduced in 2021 in Stockholm in a venue that was once a cinema and with a long history of international hot spot glory. The Astoria of today wants to recreate the international and sophisticated experience with a strong focus on friendly, knowledgeable service.
Frantzén Group is already successfully running Restaurant Zén in Singapore, which holds three stars in Guide Michelin. |
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Thursday 13 April: SwedCham's Young Professionals' network visits Spotify.
Tuesday 18 April: Cross-chamber Professional Women's After Work. A networking event hosted by the Irish Chamber of Commerce and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.
Thursday 8 June: Inauguration of SwedCham's latest local outreach initiative: The Green Innovation Centre in Bukit Batok (by invitation only).
Saturday 4 November: SwedCham's Annual Midwinter Ball. |
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Wednesday 8 March: SwedCham's Annual General Meeting 2023. Key note: Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director, EDB.
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 | | YP x Spotify - Company Visit | | Come discover Spotify and the world of music with the YP | 
| Apr 13, 2023
(6:30 PM - 8:00 PM) (GMT+8) |
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| Spotify Office - Lazada One
Singapore |
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| |  | | Cross-chamber Meet & Pitch AW | | Come and Showcase your Business! |
| May 17, 2023
(6:30 PM - 8:30 PM) (GMT+8) |
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| Las Palmas Rooftop Bar @ Courtyard by Marriott Novena
Singapore |
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