Mikael Damberg

On 18 April this year, the Government received a request from Vattenfall’s governing board for owner coordination regarding the sale of Vattenfall’s lignite operations in Germany. The transaction comprises the sale of the two companies that wholly or jointly own four lignite-fired power plants (Schwarze Pumpe, Lippendorf, Boxberg and Jänschwalde in Germany, located in the states of Brandenburg and Saxony), and the lignite mines that supply three of these power plants with fuel.

Sweden’s prosperity is built on innovative and successful export companies that time and again have managed to renew and reorganise production and products to keep pace with changing markets. The Government’s strategy for new industrialisation is an important stage of the effort to benefit from the window of opportunity for new industrialisation that is now open to Sweden.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will pay a State Visit to Germany on 5–8 October 2016 at the invitation of Federal President Joachim Gauck. The Government will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström and Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg.

Today, June 30, Sweden rounds off its chairmanship of EUREKA, an international innovation network. Based on the values of transparency, openness, simplification and efficiency, the Swedish Chairmanship worked to adapt and develop EUREKA on the basis of current global conditions. Sweden will now hand over the chairmanship to Spain.

On the afternoon of 12 May, Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet left Sweden following a three-day State Visit. The President was in Sweden at the invitation of HM the King. This was the first State Visit by a Chilean president to Sweden. Several of the Government ministers took part in the programme. The purpose of the visit was to broaden and deepen bilateral relations between Chile and Sweden.

The world has gone digital. In an increasingly connected world, the distance between nations, markets and individuals is shrinking. This digitisation enhances our vision of the single market, one economy without barriers. The question of how to adapt the single market to a modern digital economy continues to be a top priority for Europe, its tech companies and for more traditional industry. Sweden and Italy now join forces to promote a more competitive and digital Europe acting as a multiplier of opportunities and innovation for all our citizens.

On 10 May, Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet began her State Visit to Sweden. The President is visiting Sweden at the invitation of HM the King. The Visit will last from 10 to 12 May and is the first incoming State Visit from Chile to Sweden.

The Government’s award for extraordinary services to Swedish music exports in 2015 goes to artist, songwriter and lyricist Tove Lo. The Government’s 2015 Special Prize for long-standing contributions to Swedish music exports goes to composer Anders Hillborg. The 2015 Commendation for achievements of particular importance to the internationalisation of Swedish music goes to conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. The winners will accept their awards on 29 February 2016 at the International Press Centre.

The Government’s 2015 Music Export Prize will be presented on 29 February 2016 by Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg. Today the nominees will be presented.

More Swedish export enterprises will compete for the largest global deals. This initiative, which is part of the Government’s new export strategy for increased trade and more jobs, entails a broader mandate for Business Sweden.