Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and former US National Security Advisor Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski. Photo: Ebassy of Sweden in Washington
SIPRIs North American Operations Launched by Carl Bildt and Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski
On Feb 6th, on the occasion of the launch of SIPRI North America, more than 150 people gathered at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington DC. The North American branch of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute was introduced by a discussion on the role of Europe and the US in the coming 20 years. Featured speakers were Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and former US National Security Advisor Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski.
The Government's 2011 Music Export Prize to Swedish House Mafia
During 2011, Swedish House Mafia have consolidated their international position as world-leading DJs. With a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York - which sold out in 20 minutes - Swedish House Mafia (Steve Angelo, Axel 'Axwell' Hedfors and Sebastian Ingrosso) demonstrated once and for all that house music belongs in both clubs and huge arenas.
The 2011 Special prize for Swedish music exports goes to Roxette who celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2011 with one of the largest tours a Swedish band has ever undertaken.
Photo: Linn Duvhammar/MFA
Ewa Björling presents initiative for Swedish fashion in China
In connection with Stockholm Fashion Week, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling launched a new initiative on Tuesday intended to increase fashion exports to China.
"Swedish fashion is a red-hot trend throughout the world right now. But sales are concentrated in Europe, despite the fact that future growth will be created in new markets. We have to be at the forefront and this is why I am taking the initiative to support fashion companies' exports to the growth market that is China," says Dr Björling.
Anders Borg and Gunilla Carlsson present this year's World Bank report on gender equality as smart economics
On 31 January, Minister for Finance Anders Borg and Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson are to present the World Development Report 2012 in Stockholm, together with the report' principle author, Dr Ana Revenga (World Bank).
Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. Photo: Mikael Axelsson
SAO meeting at Swedish Museum of Natural History
The Swedish Chairmanship of the Arctic Council is is arranging the first Senior Arctic Officials (SAO) meeting of the year at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm in March. The museum hopes to arouse interest in nature and natural sciences, the environment, conservation and biodiversity. Interests that chime well with the activities of the Arctic Council.
Holocaust Remembrance Day in Raoul Wallenberg Year
On Thursday 26 January, a Holocaust memorial ceremony will be held at the Great Synagogue of Stockholm in the presence of the King and Queen, ministers and members of the diplomatic corps. This year, the emphasis will be on Raoul Wallenberg, who saved thousands of Jews in Budapest. Raoul Wallenberg would have turned 100 this year. The Government's coordinator for the Raoul Wallenberg Year, Mr Olle Wästberg, will give the main address.
The ceremony will be broadcast live in its entirety on SVTplay at 18.00.
Current status of Swedish cultural cooperation
Support to cultural cooperation has always been an important component of Sweden's development policy. There has recently been a reduction in cultural cooperation. This reduction is the result of a number of different factors, such as a reduction in the number of partner countries and that partner countries set different priorities. Another factor is that culture is now included in other areas and measures.
Ewa Björling to present the Government's Music Export Prize
On Wednesday 1 February, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will present the Government's Music Export Prize for 2011 and a Special Prize to honour a person or group that has made outstanding contributions over many years to the promotion and spreading of Swedish music abroad. This year's prize ceremony will include a celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Music Export Prize.
Ewa Björling to Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique to promote increased trade
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will visit Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique on 23-27 January to enhance trade relations and business opportunities for Swedish companies in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Carl Bildt to Budapest to open Raoul Wallenberg exhibition
On 17 januari 1945 Raoul Wallenberg was arrested by the Soviet Army. On exactly the same date, 67 years later, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, János Martonyi, will open a Raoul Wallenberg exhibition at the National Museum in Budapest. The exhibition is called "To me there's no other choice - 1912 - 2012". Mr Bildt will also give a lecture at the Central European University.
- Speech by Carl Bildt at the Central European University
- Press release: Carl Bildt travels to Budapest to open exhibition and hold speech on Raoul Wallenberg
- Opinion piece in the New York Times by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt: Wallenberg's Life-Giving Legacy
- Press release: Start of the Raoul Wallenberg Year
- More information about Raoul Wallenberg 2012
