Opening ceremony form Sweden Expo Week in Shanghai
Swedens Participation
Background to Sweden’s participation
Sweden has strong historical ties to China in the trading area, including the Swedish East India Company in the 1700s, but in recent years Swedish companies have also developed extensive trade with China. Some 400-500 Swedish companies are currently involved in China, other than those in Hong Kong. Two-thirds of Sweden’s total exports to China go to the eastern part of the country with Shanghai as the hub. All Swedish consumers are naturally well aware of Sweden’s substantial imports from China.
The Swedish government decided on 4 June 2007 that Sweden was to participate in Expo 2010. The Swedish participation aims to strengthen a positive image of Sweden internationally, to promote the competitiveness and creativity of Swedish trade and industry, and to reinforce Sweden’s attractiveness for tourism and investment as well as for research and cultural exchange. The participation shall reflect a broad Swedish political and economic engagement with focus on climate and environmental issues, and also expand the opportunities for Swedish companies to compete on the Chinese market. The Committee Directive is available here: http://www.sou.gov.se/kommittedirektiv/2007/dir2007_142.pdf
The 2008 budget proposition prescribes a government allocation of SEK 70 million to the Swedish participation. The amount was conditional on an equivalent amount being contributed from the business sector. In contrast to earlier Swedish involvement in World Expos, it was clearly emphasized that co-financiers would be able to use the Swedish participation in Expo 2010 as a base for strengthening their relationships in China.
Keywords in the Swedish participation are Innovation, Communication and Sustainability. These keywords have been further developed to form the overall Swedish theme Sweden – Spirit of Innovation. To be as effective as possible, it is essential this theme permeates all aspects of the Swedish participation.
