2010 Press release 31 August 2010 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Music and fashion to put Sweden on the map - Government earmarks SEK 1 million for promotion initiatives Swedish music, fashion and digital games are a few industries that can promote the image of Sweden abroad. They are three creative industries that have a good reputation beyond our borders, and there is a great deal of interest in them. This is why the Government is now investing even more in the experience industry, especially since we have seen that activities previously conducted abroad have generated a lot of interest and received a positive response. These investments have helped to attract more tourists to Sweden and created an interest among foreign entrepreneurs in business opportunities. Our talented songwriters, designers and others involved in the experience industry abroad have helped to put Sweden on the world map. For a small country, Sweden has a strong position as an exporter of music - we are ranked fifth after other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The music business is an important part of the Swedish experience industry, which is an expanding export industry and a major growth sector. In 2009, the experience industry accounted for over 5 per cent of Sweden's GDP, and it employs 280 000 people. "We have seen that the experience industry is very important for people's image of Sweden abroad. When I'm out travelling, I often hear how people associate Sweden with Abba, Max Martin, Robyn, DICE and Odd Molly. This is why it's really important that we promote this sector, so that we can become even stronger and more talked about beyond our borders," says Minister for Trade Ewa Björling, who is responsible for promoting the image of Sweden. The Government Offices has now decided to give the Swedish Institute (SI) the task of promoting creative industries abroad and has approved SEK 1 million for 2010. SI will develop a communications strategy to promote creative industries abroad, and a special focus will be placed on areas thought to have major export potential. In its work, SI will cooperate with other relevant public bodies and organisations, such as the Swedish Trade Council. "Swedish creativity and the experience industry are at the forefront internationally and have in recent years received considerable attention in a number of areas. A coherent approach with an overarching communications strategy will not only strengthen promising future export areas, but also contribute to Sweden being seen as a creative and innovative country. The Swedish Institute - which is an expert in international communications and network-building - has a major opportunity, together with the key actors in the industry, to put Sweden and Swedish creativity on the map," says Thomas Carlhed, Acting Director-General of the Swedish Institute. For more information, please contact Monica Ohlsson, Press Secretary to the Minister for Trade, or Jenny Hagblom, Press and Information Officer at the Swedish Institute. Contact Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Press Secretary to Ewa Björling +46 8 405 37 11 +46 70 296 18 99 email to Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Jenny Hagblom Press and Information Officer at the Swedish Institute +46 8 453 79 22 +46 736 84 20 22 Press release 28 May 2010 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Trade Ewa Björling to visit Lebanon, Iraq and Algeria On 29 May-2 June, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will be visiting Lebanon, Algeria and Iraq together with a business delegation. The primary purpose of the visit is to promote Swedish enterprise and trade flows between Sweden and these three countries, as well as to further extend existing points of contact. Iraq The business delegation on this occasion will be travelling to Erbil, in northern Iraq, where Sweden has opened an honorary consulate. Last year the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad was reopened and the Swedish Trade Council has also set up an office there. Swedish exports to Iraq have increased substantially over the last few years; according to new figures from Statistics Sweden, exports increased by 116 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. The aim is that Iraq will once again be one of Sweden's most important markets in the Middle East, as was the case in the 1970s and 1980s. Lebanon and Algeria In both Lebanon and Iraq, the accompanying business delegation will be focusing on the Kosmopolit project. The Government has decided on special initiatives to draw on the unique expertise of Swedes with foreign backgrounds to boost foreign trade and opportunities for businesses to break into new export markets. The project identifies and highlights foreign-born entrepreneurs' knowledge of their former home countries including the business culture, language and politics. This will improve Sweden's global competitiveness, create more jobs and increase prosperity. The Minister for Trade and the business delegation will also visit Algeria. Algeria has very ambitious plans to expand its infrastructure and housing over the next few years, and Swedish enterprises ought to be in a good position to take part in many of these projects. Swedish trade with Algeria has increased dramatically in recent years. Selected points from Dr Björling's programme: - Bilateral meetings mainly with the trade and finance ministers in the different countries. In addition to bilateral trade, Dr Björling intends to raise other issues including Swedish environment and energy expertise, and CSR. - Participation in business seminars and roundtable discussions in Erbil on opportunities for Swedish enterprises in Iraq. Visits to local projects with a Swedish connection. - Speeches at the chambers of commerce in both Beirut and Algiers. - Visit to the annual trade fair in Algiers, which will include a Swedish pavilion. Contact Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Press Secretary to Ewa Björling +46 8 405 37 11 +46 70 296 18 99 email to Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Press release 24 May 2010 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU Ewa Björling to attend Competitiveness Council in Brussels On Tuesday 25 May, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will take part in the EU Competiveness Council in Brussels. Time and place Press conference A press briefing will be held on 25 May at 15.00 in the Swedish briefing room in the Council's Justus Lipsius building. For further information, please contact Monica Ohlsson or Elisabet Dahlén Jonsson; see contact information provided here. Several items concerning the EU internal market are on the agenda. "An effectively functioning internal market is of major importance to our businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Thanks to the internal market, Swedish businesses have access to over 500 million consumers and 20 million businesses in 30 countries," says Dr Björling. One important matter to be discussed is a proposal concerning regulations on uniform CE-marking of construction products. CE-marking is intended to make construction products comparable and increase trade within Europe. "Swedish construction products are characterised by their high quality. If implemented, the proposal will make trade in construction products substantially easier and strengthen the competitiveness of companies that buy and sell Swedish construction products. The proposal, however, lacks sufficient provisions concerning the reporting of hazardous chemical substances contained in construction products. This is important for all consumers and to ensure that construction waste is managed in an environmentally and economically sound way. We will continue to work to strengthen this in upcoming negotiations." The ministers will also address the implementation of the Services Directive. Sweden implemented the Directive in December last year. "The effective implementation of the Services Directive in all the Member States will substantially ease conditions for the increasingly important trade in services within the EU and EEA areas. This is particularly important for small business operators wanting to sell and buy services across national borders. "Unfortunately the EU patent - one of the most important measures to promote innovation in Europe - is not on the agenda. The Commission had hoped to gain informal support for a proposal during the Spanish Presidency. Since it has proven impossible to agree on the language issue, the Commission has chosen not to present a proposal. It is of utmost importance that we reach a final agreement on an EU patent as soon as possible." In connection with the Council, Dr Björling will meet with the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Michel Barnier, and the Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht. Contact Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Press Secretary to Ewa Björling +46 8 405 37 11 +46 70 296 18 99 email to Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Lisa Dahlén Jonsson Press and Communications Officer (Coreper I) +32 (0)2 289 56 65 +32 (0)476 50 50 22 email to Lisa Dahlén Jonsson Press release 10 May 2010 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Sweden welcomes Estonia, Israel and Slovenia to the OECD The Swedish Government welcomes the decision taken today, 10 May, by the OECD Council to invite Estonia, Israel and Slovenia to become members of the organisation, now that the membership negotiations started in 2007 have been concluded. The negotiations with Estonia and Slovenia have resulted, among other things, in these countries improving their legislation concerning the management of state-owned companies. As EU Member States, these countries already had legislation and policies in place that were to a great extent in harmony with the OECD standard. Israel has adopted and begun to implement a series of reforms in the areas of anti-corruption, environment, competition and intellectual property in order to pave the way for OECD membership. A special investigation has been carried out into labour market and social policy, with a focus on the situation for minority groups.