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Swedish Chamber Member Forvis Mazars: ESG Pathfinder offer to all Members
ESG Pathfinder: A Practical, Free Tool to Assess ESG Maturity   The ESG Pathfinder is a free‑to‑use digital assessment tool developed by Forvis Mazars Germany on the Betty Blocks low‑code platform. It helps organisations quickly understand their maturity level across key Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) themes and identify opportunities and risks in Sustainable Finance. The tool takes approximately 30–45 minutes to complete, during which the user answers a structured set of qualitative questions across 46 ESG aspects, covering ESG reporting, sustainability ambition, environmental and social practices, governance, and sustainable finance. After completion, the platform automatically generates a personalised ESG maturity report, summarising:
  • overall readiness and benchmarked scores,
  • detailed maturity levels across six ESG categories,
  • priority actions and recommendations,
  • risks and opportunities relevant for the organisation’s next steps.
This automated output provides a clear starting point about your current ESG position. Forvis Mazars is a partner of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and offers all members a free consultation after completing the ESG Pathfinder.   How We Use ESG Pathfinder in the Netherlands In the Netherlands, ESG Pathfinder has become an effective first step in our sustainability advisory process. We typically use the tool:
  1. As an accessible entry point for clients
Companies with low or moderate ESG awareness appreciate the ability to self‑assess without cost or commitment. This makes ESG Pathfinder a powerful lead‑generation and education tool.
  1. To structure follow‑up discussions
The automatically generated report allows us to quickly identify:
  • gaps in ESG governance,
  • exposure to regulatory developments (e.g., CSRD, taxonomy, sector‑specific obligations),
  • opportunities for sustainable finance improvements,
  • potential competitive advantages and employer‑branding levers.
This leads to targeted conversations and concrete next steps.
  1. To support tailored ESG roadmaps
Dutch clients value the clear, practical recommendations that the tool includes. These insights often feed directly into:
  • ESG strategies,
  • data and reporting readiness assessments,
  • decarbonization plans,
  • supply‑chain due diligence programs,
  • Sustainable Finance improvements (e.g., ESG‑linked loans).
  Easy to Translate & Align with Swedish Law The ESG Pathfinder has been designed with full localisation in mind. Member firms receive customisation files that can be translated and adapted to local environments, including:
  • Swedish legal forms of companies
  • Swedish ESG reporting frameworks (e.g., CSRD, ESRS, Swedish Environmental Code)
  • local Forvis Mazars contact details
  • country‑specific regulatory references
The tool’s architecture ensures Sweden can quickly implement a Swedish version while maintaining alignment with local ESG and sustainability legislation, including human rights due diligence, environmental disclosures, labour market requirements, and sustainable finance expectations. This makes the Pathfinder not only easy to deploy but also highly relevant for Swedish clients, especially SMEs preparing for EU‑driven regulation.   Why ESG Pathfinder Matters for Sweden The Swedish market is already highly active in sustainability, but many SMEs and public‑sector organisations still struggle with:
  • rising reporting obligations,
  • supply‑chain expectations from larger Nordic/EU companies,
  • demands from banks and investors integrating ESG,
  • employer‑attractiveness challenges linked to sustainability,
  • climate‑ and social‑risk management.
ESG Pathfinder provides a structured, evidence‑based and user‑friendly way to help these organisations gain clarity and momentum.   For more information and the ESG Pathfinder, please follow the following link: https://esg-pathfinder.betty.app/start
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Swedish Chamber Memebr Volvo: EX60 Ends Range Anxiety

Electric car range anxiety may be overstated—few drivers want to travel 500 miles without stopping—but it remains a psychological hurdle to EV adoption. That barrier could soon disappear. Launched for 2026, the new Volvo EX60 offers up to 503.3 miles of WLTP range, and it is among several models arriving this year with similarly long endurance.

The EX60 is the first Volvo built on the all-new SPA3 platform. “It is all new,” says Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson. “It’s very different from SPA2. There is no compromise.” SPA3 is a dedicated electric architecture with no combustion option and introduces innovations such as mega casting, replacing more than 100 bolted components with a single part to reduce weight and costs.

It is also Volvo’s first model to use cell-to-body battery technology, where the battery pack is a structural element of the chassis. “The aluminium battery box is bolted underneath the chassis to stiffen up everything so it’s part of the load-carrying structure, making it much lighter,” Samuelsson explains.

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Member Satisfaction Survey Report 2025
In November last year, we conducted our Annual Member Survey to better understand which services, activities, and key values offered by the Chamber matter most to our members, as well as how they wish to engage more with the Chamber’s activities. We are grateful to all our members who dedicated their time to share insights. We have started to connect with those who have expressed interest in engaging more with our community, such as Committee membership, being featured in our communication channels, collaborating in partner events, and as a hosting company – among others. Thank you for being an essential part of our community and the cornerstone of our progress! We invite you to read the full report on our website and discover how your feedback is shaping the future of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.
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Applications for the 2026 – 2027 International Management Trainee Program are now open!
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands is now accepting applications for the 2026 - 2027 International Management Trainee Program in Amsterdam. Gain hands-on experience in international business and join the vibrant Swedish-Dutch business community, a proven launchpad for successful careers. The scholarships have been made possible through generous donations from the Scholarship Fund for Swedish Youth Abroad, Gull & Stellan Ljungbergs Stiftelse and the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg This 12-month programme will immerse you in an international environment, helping you gain valuable experience while building a strong professional network for your global career. Last day to submit your application is March 31, 2026, but we will review applications on a rolling basis. Apply by sending in your CV, Transcript of Records and Motivational letter to frida.olovsson@swedishchamber.nl.
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Welcome New Member: YADE Health
The Swedish Chamber is honoured to have YADE Health join our Swedish-Dutch Business Community as our newest Member.   "Hej Swedish Chamber of Commerce Community! I’m very excited to join this inspiring network as the founder of YADE Health, a Corporate Wellbeing and Vitality company supporting organizations in strengthening energy, engagement, and sustainable performance. At YADE Health, we design innovative health and happiness programs built around simple, science-based habits that fit naturally into everyday work life. Our approach combines micro-habits, interactive workshops, and energizing experiences to help teams become more resilient, connected, and motivated, without adding extra pressure to busy schedules. I’m passionate about making wellbeing practical, measurable, and enjoyable, while supporting companies in creating healthy workplace cultures that truly last. I look forward to meeting you, learning from your experiences, and starting inspiring conversations around the future of workplace wellbeing". - Yvonne Escalona We are looking forward to future collaboration and to introduce YADE Health to our Swedish Dutch business community.
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Swedish Government launches Made with Sweden initiative – a concerted push for free trade and global collaboration
On 18 December, the Government unveiled Made with Sweden, an initiative to increase Swedish exports, promote investment and strengthen international cooperation in a time of growing protectionism. Trade barriers and protectionism threaten the open market that has been crucial to Sweden’s prosperity. History shows that trade and cooperation have led to progress and growth, while isolation is a dead end. To counteract this, the Government is now launching Made with Sweden.  The Government has instructed the Swedish Institute, Business Sweden, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Swedish Export Credit Agency and the National Board of Trade to support the Made with Sweden initiative, which will increase Swedish exports, promote investment and strengthen international collaboration. Sweden’s missions abroad have been instructed to prioritise the initiative in the coming years.   “We want to attract investment to Sweden. But we also want Swedish companies to invest abroad. We want production from foreign companies in Sweden, as well as Swedish production overseas. We want the world’s talents here – but we also want our young people to discover the world and our researchers to collaborate with the best research institutes in the world. We want our goods on their shelves, and their goods on ours. In a world that is turning inwards, Sweden is standing up for openness,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.  
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Swedish Chamber Member: EF English Proficiency Index 2025 launched

The 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, assessing 123 countries, reveals persistent global disparities in English skills. The Netherlands tops the ranking, followed by Croatia and Austria, while Germany posts one of Europe’s biggest gains. Speaking remains the biggest challenge, with over half of countries scoring lowest in this skill, and wide gaps exist across reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Encouragingly, the gender gap is shrinking worldwide, though youth under 25 continue to lag behind older adults, defying post-pandemic expectations. Regionally, Europe has plateaued, Asia shows the narrowest skill gaps, Latin America the largest age disparities, and Africa the most varied performance.

For the first time, EF used AI to assess speaking and writing, offering a richer view of communication skills. With English remaining the key language for global collaboration, innovation, and access to leading AI tools, proficiency is more critical than ever.

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Swedish Chamber Member: Noviflora CEO Hendrico de Brabander steps down
After careful consideration, Hendrico de Brabander has announced his decision to step down as CEO of Noviflora. Xander van Reisen, second generation within the family business and currently Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), will assume the role of CEO as of 1 April 2026. Hendrico de Brabander joined the family business over nineteen years ago. Under the shared vision and leadership of De Brabander and Van Reisen, Noviflora experienced strong growth and evolved from an export company into an international organization with operations in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and Switzerland.
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