Trade and investment promotion

Brazil and Sweden entered into a strategic partnership in 2009. The partnership is accompanied by an action plan which is being updated in connection with President Dilma Rousseff’s visit to Sweden.

President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil will visit Sweden on 18–19 October, accompanied by several ministers, representatives of government agencies and around twenty business representatives.

Friday 9 October was the final day of the Swedish State Visit to Lithuania. Since the State Visit began on Wednesday 7 October, the Swedish delegation has had a fruitful and busy visit on the other side of the Baltic Sea.

The three-day State Visit to Lithuania of Their Majesties The King and Queen of Sweden begins today. The Swedish Government is represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström, Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg and (on Friday) by Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist. A Swedish business delegation will also take part in the Visit.

Trade in services should preferably be dealt with in the WTO, but as the Doha Round has made no progress in the area of services, a separate plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) has been under negotiation since March 2013.

The recent turbulence in China is also having an effect on Swedish companies. I am signing a new memorandum of understanding between Sweden and China to deepen our cooperation on corporate social responsibility, writes Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg, who begins a visit to China today.

Today, Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg launched the Swedish Government’s action plan for business and human rights, which has been drawn up in dialogue with businesses, trade union organisations, government agencies and civil society.

The Government believes that business and respect for human rights go hand in hand and must be part of an active corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. The Government has therefore drawn up a national action plan for business and human rights.

Heads of state and government from the EU Member States and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) met in Brussels on 10-11 June. The EU-CELAC Summit is the major forum for cooperation between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven represented Sweden.

India’s President Shri Pranab Mukherjee continued his State Visit in Sweden on Monday. The day’s agenda included a meeting with the Prime Minister at Rosenbad.

On 1 June, two senior business leaders from Cyprus will visit Stockholm.

On Wednesday 3 June, Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete will arrive in Stockholm for a visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, will pay a State Visit to Sweden from 31 May to 2 June 2015 at the invitation of His Majesty the King. The Government will be represented, with the majority of ministers participating. The main themes of the visit are innovations and sustainable development, with a focus on urban development, science and research.

Swedish businesses wanting to enter the export market regard current export support as confusing, given the various government agencies, companies and boards involved. Team Sweden has consequently been tasked with coordinating export support and making things simple and straightforward for companies wanting to enter the export market. As its first destination, Team Sweden recently visited Brazil.

On 27-28 March, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven is visiting China. Mr Löfven has been invited to participate in Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan and he will also visit Beijing. Talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang are important elements of the visit.

The Government’s 2014 Music Export Prize for extraordinary services to Swedish music exports goes to songwriter and producer Max Martin, whose real name is Martin Sandberg. Uniquely this year, the winner of the Music Export Prize is also awarded this year’s Special Prize for long-standing contributions to Swedish music and for spreading a positive image of Sweden abroad. Spotify is awarded the commendation for achievements of particular importance to the internationalisation of Swedish music.