Press release 19 December 2007
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Sweden phases out three embassies

Today the Government decided to phase out three of Sweden's embassies. The three are the embassies in Angola, Philippines and Laos.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs continuously reviews its organisation abroad and assesses its status in relation to external changes and changing requirements for monitoring and service. This means that over time Sweden opens new or closes existing embassies and consulates. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs must also adapt its organisation abroad to its budget and live up to the efficiency objectives that apply to all ministries and government agencies.

Angola

Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to recognise Angola when it became independent in 1975. We were also one of the first countries to open an embassy and start development cooperation with Angola. Since then the main task of the embassy has been to work on development assistance matters. As a result of Angola's rapid and vigorous economic growth this development cooperation has now been phased out. The Government therefore makes the assessment that the remaining tasks, such as promotion of Swedish interests in the country and reporting on economic and political development in Angola, can be handled from the embassy in Pretoria and by the Swedish Trade Council, which has had a presence in Luanda since October 2007. The embassy is expected to close by 31 August 2008 at the latest. An honorary consulate will be established.

Philippines

Sweden's embassy to the Philippines mainly works on promoting Swedish exports and helping Swedish companies to compete for contracts in the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Swedish exports to the Philippines account for about 0.07 per cent of all Swedish exports and Sweden has a small share of ADB contracts. In connection with the Government's review of development cooperation in 2007 it was decided to end Sweden's bilateral development assistance to the Philippines. Sida has been instructed to draft a phase-out plan. An honorary consulate will be opened to give service to Swedish citizens. The embassy is expected to close by 30 June 2008 at the latest.

Laos

In connection with the review of development cooperation in 2007 the Government decided to end Sweden's bilateral development cooperation with Laos. The Government has instructed Sida to draft a phase-out strategy for Laos. Since development assistance matters are the predominant activity at the embassy in Laos, the Government intends to convert the embassy into a section office focused entirely on phasing out development assistance. The section office will be run by Sida. The conversion into a section office will take place by 15 August 2008 at the latest.

Houston

Today the Government has also cancelled the decision taken in 2004 to open a consulate-general in Houston in the United States. This decision was taken three years ago but has never been put into effect on account of a lack of resources.