Trade and investment promotion

On 16 September, the Swedish Government received the Government of Finland for a joint government meeting. The aim was to further strengthen the deep cooperation between the two countries. It also provided an opportunity for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ two new ministers to welcome their Finnish counterparts for the first time. Support to Ukraine and support to innovative scale-ups were the focus.

On 3 September, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell received Türkiye’s Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat. The aim of the visit was to promote dialogue between Sweden and Türkiye within the framework of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).

The first-ever Swedish minister-led business delegation visited Ukraine this week. The delegation was headed by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. In Kyiv, the delegation met with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held roundtable discussions with a tailored line-up of Ukrainian ministers, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The new Swedish trade office was also inaugurated.

The EU single market is by far the most important market for Sweden. It is therefore crucial that it is at the core of the Strategic Agenda and a top priority for the EU Commission. This 10S booklet outlines the top ten political commitments that are needed for the EU single market to remain competitive in an era of fierce global competition.

In 2019, Sweden and Chile celebrated 200 years of bilateral relations. Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto van Klaveren Stork now confirmed the strong relations by signing a bilateral roadmap.

On 10–11 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell will travel to Berlin to take part in the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference together with Business Sweden’s CEO Jan Larsson and Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Jakob Granit. This year’s conference will focus in particular on the important role of the private sector in reconstruction, the importance of international cooperation and the human dimension. During his visit to Berlin, Mr Forssell will also meet with the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze. He will also visit the German Vattenfall office.

On Monday 3 June, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson took part in a press conference together with Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith. Microsoft announced new investments in Sweden related to AI totalling SEK 34 billion.

On 3 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell presented the Government’s 2023 Cultural and Creative Industries Export Prize. The Prize has been awarded since 2017 and the winner is chosen by a jury consisting of representatives of the cultural and creative industries. This year’s Prize went to Svenskt Tenn, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Rising Star Award was presented to Hanna Hansdotter, one of the most interesting and innovative glass artists of our time.

Speech by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell on the occasion of Africa Day. Egyptian Embassy, Stockholm, 28 May. Check against delivery.

On 23 May, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell is travelling to London for the third annual UK-Sweden Business Forum. Mr Forssell is meeting with Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands and Swedish and British companies for a roundtable discussion on trade and investments in the building, transport and logistics sectors.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell is visiting Zambia on 14–16 May. Mr Forssell is announcing Sweden’s new strategy for development cooperation, which places a stronger emphasis on women’s and girls’ access to antenatal care and safe abortions.

In connection with the Nordic summit in Stockholm on 13–14 May, in which Germany also took part, Mr Kristersson and Mr Scholz signed a strategic innovation partnership for security and digital and green transition.

On 13 May, heads of government of the five Nordic countries and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Stockholm within the framework of a Nordic summit.

On 2–3 May, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Olatunbosun Tijani visited Sweden at the invitation of Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. The purpose of the visit was to discuss opportunities for enhanced cooperation on innovation, digitalisation and telecommunications.

On 2–3 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will be in Copenhagen to attend this year’s Nordic-African Foreign Ministers Meeting. The agenda includes peace and security, multilateral cooperation, reform of multilateral institutions and increasing trade and investment.

On 9 April, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell gathered leading actors in Team Sweden for a high-level meeting. The aim was to jointly foster better conditions for improved global competitiveness and foreign trade, and bolster Sweden’s position internationally. The Government organised the meeting to discuss the work already in progress and the joint path forward.

Today, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell presented the Government’s Music Export Prize to Loreen. Europe were awarded the Government’s Special Prize and the Honourable Mention went to Melodifestivalen.

The Government will task the Swedish Institute with establishing and coordinating a Team Sweden group to create positive interest and confidence in Sweden abroad. This initiative is being presented today, 9 April, at a high-level meeting that includes discussions and a presentation of the work on Sweden’s strategy for foreign trade, investment and global competitiveness (the foreign trade strategy) with leading actors within Team Sweden. Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ebba Busch and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell hosted the meeting.

On 10 April, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell will present the Government’s Music Export Prize for 2023. The nominees include internationally successful Swedish artists and songwriters.

Sweden is a leading donor of development assistance, but meeting the funding needs for a green and digital transition requires closer cooperation between development assistance and trade, greater mobilisation of private capital and harnessing the business sector’s innovation capacity. A current example of this is Sweden’s partnership with Bangladesh, which HRH Crown Princess Victoria visited together with Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell on 18–21 March.