Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation

How many people work at the Government Offices? What was the central government budget like last year? How many acts and ordinances were issued last year? The answer to these and other questions can be found in the Swedish Government Offices Yearbook 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a markedly reduced demand for seafood from Swedish aquaculture since most sales go to restaurants, hotels and conference centres. This has created major challenges for fish farmers. The Government has therefore introduced temporary easing of regulations covering aquaculture licences.

To mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, on 11 June the Government presented a government bill to the Riksdag that entails giving exploration companies an additional year to carry out their work.

The human rights situation in Sweden was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council at the end of January as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Sweden received 300 recommendations from other UN Member States. The Government has now communicated its position on the recommendations in a report to be submitted to the UN.

The Government is investing to assist the green industries in the absence of foreign seasonal workers. SEK 11 million is being invested to facilitate the matching of unemployed people to the green industries.

Together with the Centre Party and the Liberal Party, the Government is proposing an additional SEK 400 million for Almi Invest. The additional funding is aimed at bridging the crisis in small innovative businesses and avoiding the loss of structural capital and intangible assets in the life science sector and others.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party are presenting new measures to strengthen digital infrastructure. Under the proposal in the additional amending budget, SEK 202.8 million will be provided to the Rural Development Programme for 2014–2020 to ensure that budget funds previously set aside to support broadband expansion can be paid.

The Swedish Government has adopted an updated strategy to combat antibiotic resistance. The overarching goal continues to be preserving the possibility of effective treatment of bacterial infections in humans and animals. The strategy will apply until the end of 2023.

The Government has decided to change the requirements on Almi Invest’s operations to facilitate investments in new and existing innovative companies. The measure is part of the Government’s efforts to facilitate the supply of capital to companies and reduce the economic consequences of the virus outbreak.

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is increasing the number of student places. One hundred new places are already being created for summer courses this year and the number of places in the foundation year is being increased. The aim is to meet the increased need for education and transition in the labour market as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 virus.