Ewa Björling in New York: the UN should buy more from Swedish companies
On 21-22 November, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling is visiting New York, where she will hold meetings with the UN and representatives of Swedish companies to try to increase Sweden's share in UN procurements.
"Each year the UN buys goods and services worth the equivalent of nearly SEK 100 billion. Procurement from Swedish companies currently accounts for a modest 0.13 per cent of this amount. I am certain that we can increase Sweden's share," says Dr Björling.
Ewa Björling to hold seminar on Internet freedom
On Wednesday 16 November Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will host a seminar for companies in the IT and telecoms industry to discuss how to promote Internet freedom through responsibility.
Per Anger prize to imprisoned human rights defender in Iran
Lawyer and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi from Iran has been awarded the 2011 Per Anger Prize for her efforts on behalf of human rights and especially the rights of women. Since 2004 the Living History Forum has awarded the Per Anger Prize to a person who has made great contributions to democracy and humanitarian work. The Prize Award Ceremony will take place at Kulturhuset on Monday 14 November in connection with the Human Rights Days event. The prize will be awarded by Minister for Integration Erik Ullenhag.
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling together with the invited Ministers. Photo: Martina Huber
EU single market ministers meet in Stockholm
On Monday 14 November Minister for Trade Ewa Björling is holding a meeting with representatives of 15 EU Member States, including six single market ministers, on competitiveness and growth in the EU Single Market.
"Both the services sector and free trade are important issues for Sweden and I look forward to discussing how we can continue to work in concrete terms to put increased pressure on the Commission to achieve higher employment, growth and better conditions for enterprises," says Minister for Trade Ewa Björling.
The Arctic Council's forward-looking meeting began on board the Swedish icebreaker Oden. Photo: Anna Backlund/Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Successful Arctic Council meeting in Luleå
The first Senior Arctic Officials meeting under the Swedish Chairmanship is now concluded. The result: a decision to start five new projects in the Arctic, including a major research project to be led by the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Photo: Karin Nylund/MFA
Ewa Björling opens conference on trade with China
On Wednesday 12 October, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will be speaking at a conference on trade with China organised by Dagens Industri.
"China is obviously an important market for a small and export-oriented country such as Sweden, but of course there are challenges, especially when it comes to human rights. But I'm convinced that our influence has the most impact when there is a lot of contact between our countries," says Dr Björling.
"It is very fascinating to follow India so closely at an historic time when the global economic and political shift towards Asia is accelerating," says Andreas Ershammar. Foto: Julia Servenius
Discussion on India's growing role in the world
The India Forum opens today in Stockholm. Some 60 people from India, the USA, Sweden and the rest of Europe are meeting to discuss the political, economic and social developments in the country, and India's growing global role.
"India is important to Sweden. We need to learn more about India and how other parts of the world view India's role in its own region as well as globally, since it is expected to gain a more prominent role over the next few years," says Andreas Ershammar, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) officer responsible for Indian issues.
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling speaks about Swedish music exports at the opening of the Popkomm 2011 conference in Berlin. Photo: Messe Berlin
Ewa Björling on the promotion calender for 2012
At this year's Meeting of Swedish Ambassadors in August, the Minister for Trade announced a decision to create a promotion calender for 2012 to provide increased focus on five chosen creative industries: music, food, film, fashion and literature. In this article, Dr Björling answers questions about the expectations, structure and implementation of the initiative.
Sweden best in the world at supporting poor countries
According to the American think tank Center for Global Development Swedenis best in the world at helping poor countries. Sweden's development cooperation is world-class both in terms of quantity and quality.
Carl Bildt discussed disunity and the EU in Kosovo and Serbia
The situation in northern Kosovo and closer ties with the EU were the focus of the talks Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt held during his two-day trip to Kosovo and Serbia. At a press conference after the meeting with Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj in Kosovo Mr Bildt said:
"The developments we have seen in Kosovo in recent months are serious. Political measures are now needed to try to bridge the disunity we now see and which unfortunately has recently become deeper."
