Tal
Tokyo, Japan 17 april 2008
Ewa Björling, Handelsminister

Tal av Ewa Björling vid Ericsson Executive Day i Japan (engelska)

Distinguished guests and friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to be able to address this gathering on the occasion of "Ericsson Executive Day" in Tokyo.

This is my first visit to Japan as Minister of Trade and I am very pleased to have the opportunity to meet with some of Ericsson's most important business contacts. Ericsson's success in Japan has been - and is - of the utmost importance to Sweden. Many of you here today have contributed to this success. Let me thank all of you for your support for Ericsson and Sweden.

One of my first tasks as Minister for Trade was to launch the common brand platform for Sweden. This will form the basis of a more up-to-date and vigorous presentation of our country abroad. A credible and attractive image of Sweden, and of the distinctive features of our country, will undoubtedly be of use and an advantage for a company trying to establish itself internationally.
This image is also a crucial competitive instrument when it comes to attracting people and businesses from other countries to Sweden, whether this involves tourism, manpower, researchers, students or investments. Sweden is perceived as a dynamic country that in its endeavours to maintain a high level of development also takes people and the environment into account. A progressive country characterised by innovation, openness, caring and authenticity.

Sweden and Japan have a long tradition of industrial co-operation. Some of Sweden's best-known industrial products have been sold in Japan since the middle of the 19th century.

Indeed, around the year 1900 our commercial ties were growing so fast that Swedish industry requested the Government to establish a Swedish diplomatic presence in Tokyo in order to promote business interests. Later, in the 1930s, a group of Swedish industrialists donated a piece of land in Tokyo to the Government for the purpose of building a bigger mission. This piece of land in Shiroyama Hills is actually still where the Swedish Embassy stands today.

The industrialists were right in their positive long-term assessment of Japan's potential. Since the early days of our business relations, Japan has not only developed into the second largest economy in the world, but has also become one of Sweden's most important business partners.

Most interesting, however, is new momentum that our business relations have gained in recent years. Since the late 1990s, a remarkable number of important investments have taken place in both directions.

Looking at Japanese investments in Sweden, the accumulated investments have grown more than ten-fold in less than 10 years. Today more than 160 companies in Sweden have a Japanese owner. This is a truly an impressive development.

In the other direction, Swedish investments in Japan have also shown a strong development in recent years. According to our estimates, accumulated Swedish investments in Japan have increased more than 20 times over the last ten years.

There is no doubt that Ericsson has played an important role for these positive developments. Not only has Ericsson been the largest and most important Swedish company in Japan over the last ten years. Together with the Sony Corporation it has also made a historic contribution to Swedish-Japanese business relations.

The establishment of Sony Ericsson in 2001 is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when Sweden and Japan combine ambitions, skills and capital. Sony Ericsson has not only developed into the fourth largest mobile handset producer in the world but is also one of the most successful international joint ventures the world has ever seen.

There is plenty of room for even deeper and closer co-operation between Sweden and Japan. The recent surge of Swedish-Japanese investments shows how well we work together.

Both Sweden and Japan share a passion for technological innovation. We spend more money on research and development than most other countries and are world-leading research nations in a number of fields, including telecommunications.
This has contributed to the fact that Swedish companies and brands stand tall in the international market. I am proud to say that Sweden is ranked as number one among the EU countries when it comes to innovations. But I can also see a great potential in improving the commercialising of our innovations, and thereby further strengthen the Swedish brand.

Sweden also shares a devotion to long-term business relationships, not least with Japan. We work very well together. Swedish business people enjoy working in Japan and with Japanese colleagues. And I hear that this appreciation often is shared by Japanese working with Swedes.

Let me conclude by expressing my hope for continued success for Ericsson in Japan and for the continued strengthening of the business relations between Sweden and Japan.

Thank you!