Mumbai, India. Photo: Flickr/Deep Goswami (cc)
Sweden opens Consulate-General in Mumbai
The Government has decided to open a Swedish Consulate-General in Mumbai, India. The promotion of Sweden will be a central part of its activities and the Consulate-General will have a significant role in developing a network of contacts with representatives of India's business sector and institutions.
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling with the SymbioCity Academy participants. Photo: Anna Backlund/MFA
Sweden supports sustainable energy in Iraq
Focus was on sustainable energy systems when Minister for Trade Ewa Björling today presented diplomas to some twenty Iraqi representatives. The ceremony concluded the Swedish-Iraqi knowledge exchange at SymbioCity Academy, through which the participants spent more than a week visiting Swedish actors in the energy and environment sector.
"Sweden and Iraq have a long history of cooperation, and the prospects are good that trade between our countries will continue to increase," said Dr Björling at the diploma ceremony, during which she emphasised the importance of the fact that many Iraqi businessmen are active in Sweden.
Three foreign ministers at a press conference 550 metres underground: Jonas Gahr Störe from Norway, Carl Bildt, and Sergey Lavrov from Russia. Photo: Tomas Utsi
Foreign ministers meeting in Kiruna
Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt hosted the foreign ministers meeting of the Barents Euro - Arctic Council on Wednesday. The meeting took place at the LKAB mine in Kiruna, 550 metres below ground. Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt was joined at the meeting by Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Störe, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Toumioja and Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. A number of other delegates, representatives of indigenous peoples and observers also participated in the meeting.
"When we established the Barents Euro - Arctic Council in 1993 we saw the cooperation as part of the integration of Europe. Much has happened since then," said Mr Bildt.
"Financial stability requires coordinated European approach"
In a joint opinion piece published in the Financial Times on Wednesday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and Minister for Finance Anders Borg write about the role of the banks, and state that a coordinated European approach is necessary to achieve financial stability.
"The European banking sector is under extreme stress. As fears grow about the sustainability of Greek public finances, banks with large exposures to Greek bonds are under increasing pressure. The situation is not beyond recourse, however. Through coordinated European and national policies, progress can and will be made."
Ewa Björling and José Mujica. Photo: Julia Servenius/MFA
Ewa Björling to meet Uruguayan President José Mujica
On Wednesday 12 October Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will meet the President of Uruguay, José Mujica who is visiting Sweden with a large delegation, including the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, the Deputy Finance Minister and the chairs of several important trade organisations.
"Relations between Sweden and Uruguay are very good. Our interest and sympathy for Uruguay has been expressed throughout the years in various situations. The country is also of great interest for Swedish exports," says Dr Björling.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visits to Sweden
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon started his visit to Sweden in Uppsala, where he laid a wreath on Dag Hammarskjöld's grave. The group who gathered for the short ceremony included members of Dag Hammarskjöld's family and representatives of the Dag Hammarskjöld Fund, the United Nations Association of Sweden, Uppsala University, the Municipality of Uppsala, the Uppsala County Administrative Board, the public and the media.
Ewa Björling to visit Basra, Iraq
On 5-6 October, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling visits Basra, Iraq. Dr Björling and the Swedish business delegation travelling with her will meet representatives of Iraqi government agencies and enterprises.
"Basra is the hub of Iraq's burgeoning oil industry. My visit is part of our efforts to share in the opportunities that this development offers Swedish enterprises," says Dr Björling.
Ewa Björling to visit Iraq
On 3-4 October Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will visit Baghdad, accompanied by a business delegation. Meetings will be held with representatives of Iraqi government agencies and enterprises. In addition, Dr Björling will meet Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and Minister of Trade Khayrullah Babakir. During her visit, Dr Björling will also open the Swedish Trade Council's new trade office in Baghdad.
"Iraq is becoming an increasingly important market as the situation in the country continues to stabilise. I am hopeful that Swedish companies will be able to re-establish themselves in this market and that new companies will be able to enter the Iraqi market," says Dr Björling.
No picking and choosing when it comes to EU integration
Today, the European Commission in Stockholm held a seminar to discuss the results of the second Eastern Partnership Summit. The discussions concentrated on the progress made as a result of cooperation so far and where the focus should lie in future.
The summit in Warsaw did not make headlines, but valuable steps were taken in the laborious, long-term work towards EU integration.
"It is important not to press for a definition of the final goal of cooperation, as perceptions of the goal vary within the EU and between partner countries," says Björn Lyrvall.
Photo: UN Photo/Jess Hoffman
Swedish success in Geneva for freedom of expression on the Internet
On Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a decision to arrange a panel discussion on freedom of expression on the Internet at its next session in March 2012. The decision was adopted on the initiative of Sweden, with the support of over fifty states from throughout the world. This will be the first time that the Council discusses the issue of freedom of expression on the Internet.
"This is a major success for Sweden, which has pushed for the human rights issue to apply online as well as offline," says Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
