Algeria / Sweden /Minister for Trade Ewa Björling to visit Lebanon, Iraq and Algeria
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 28, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 29 May-2 June, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will be visiting Lebanon, Algeria and Iraq together with a business delegation.
The primary purpose of the visit is to promote Swedish enterprise and trade flows between Sweden and these three countries, as well as to further extend existing points of contact.
Iraq
The business delegation on this occasion will be travelling to Erbil, in northern Iraq, where Sweden has opened an honorary consulate. Last year the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad was reopened and the Swedish Trade Council has also set up an office there. Swedish exports to Iraq have increased substantially over the last few years; according to new figures from Statistics Sweden, exports increased by 116 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. The aim is that Iraq will once again be one of Sweden’s most important markets in the Middle East, as was the case in the 1970s and 1980s.
Lebanon and Algeria
In both Lebanon and Iraq, the accompanying business delegation will be focusing on the Kosmopolit project. The Government has decided on special initiatives to draw on the unique expertise of Swedes with foreign backgrounds to boost foreign trade and opportunities for businesses to break into new export markets. The project identifies and highlights foreign-born entrepreneurs knowledge of their former home countries including the business culture, language and politics. This will improve Sweden’s global competitiveness, create more jobs and increase prosperity.
The Minister for Trade and the business delegation will also visit Algeria. Algeria has very ambitious plans to expand its infrastructure and housing over the next few years, and Swedish enterprises ought to be in a good position to take part in many of these projects. Swedish trade with Algeria has increased dramatically in recent years.
Selected points from Dr Björling’s programme:
- Bilateral meetings mainly with the trade and finance ministers in the different countries. In addition to bilateral trade, Dr Björling intends to raise other issues including Swedish environment and energy expertise, and CSR.
- Participation in business seminars and roundtable discussions in Erbil on opportunities for Swedish enterprises in Iraq. Visits to local projects with a Swedish connection.
- Speeches at the chambers of commerce in both Beirut and Algiers.
- Visit to the annual trade fair in Algiers, which will include a Swedish pavilion.
SOURCE
Sweden – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
