Words of the Chairman, Johan Uhlin, Scania Production Nederland
On June 21, 2022, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Annual Review 2021 was published on the Swedish Chamber's Website and was presented at the Swedish Chamber's 62nd Annual General Meeting at the residence of the Swedish Ambassador, the Hague. Welcome to read the Words of the Chairman, Johan Uhlin, Scania Production Nederland.
"Dear Members,
In March 2022, we were all overwhelmed by the sad news that our beloved and unique Chairman, Ehsan Turabaz, fellow member, and friend had passed away. Working closely with him for the past two years as vice chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce I am honored to address you in this Word of the Chairman reviewing the past Chamber year.
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to overshadow 2021 with lock-down, closed markets, travel restrictions and disruptions in supply and value chains. It has been a continued challenge for businesses where entire business models have been changed and working from home became the new normal. The Covid-19 crisis has still major effects on the world economy and Swedish trade is no exception. However, disruptive times also bring innovative solutions. By evaluating the lessons learned new approaches to move forward and to look ahead appear and digitalization continues moving on at a speed as never before. The Netherlands is Sweden's seventh largest export market. The Dutch market is an attractive market for Swedish companies with its logistically strategic location and a high degree of digitalization, technology, innovation and sustainability.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands is built upon a strong business community and a unique Swedish–Dutch business relationship. Founded in 1960, by members for members, with more than 60 years of experience the Chamber is forming an extraordinary platform for Swedish-Dutch businesses coming together to share ideas, experiences and learning from each other. Being part of an active business network organization has, during the past years, proven to be more important than ever.
For the Swedish Chamber, 2021, has been a lesson in transformation and adaptation. We organized more than 40 business programs this year, most of them online, and we were able to welcome more participants both locally and internationally. In fact, the number of participants for the second year in the row past +2000. Our largest event though, our 60th Anniversary that we had all been looking forward to already since 2020, had to be closed down and postponed due to the heavy lockdown that hit us in November. We would like to thank all our members, partners, sponsors, relations and other stakeholders for your tremendous support. We are looking forward to celebrating the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Innovation & Sustainability Summit and Royal Gala Dinner on June 7, 2022, in the presence of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
We would like to thank our members for their confidence, collaboration, and contributions to our business community in 2021. Looking into 2022 we see both huge challenges and opportunities. We will continue supporting the Swedish – Dutch business community and play an active role for and by members to increase business relations and opportunities with impact and value and to grow stronger together."
Johan Uhlin
Chairman
Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to read the Swedish Chamber Annual Review 2021.
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A short impression of the Swedish Chamber 1960-2022
A short impression of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands 1960-2022, including congratulation greetings from some of our loyal members and stakeholders. The video was part of the Swedish Chamber's 60th Anniversary Royal Gala Dinner on June 7.
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://swedishchamber.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Anniversary-Dinner-Video-1.mp4"][/video]
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More photos available from the Swedish 60th Anniversary Innovation & Sustainability Summit and Royal Gala Dinner
The Swedish Chamber 60th Anniversary celebration, in the presence of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, brought together +300 business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, thought-leaders and academics from both the Netherlands and Sweden to celebrate the prosperous relationship between the two countries.
The day began with a Swedish-Dutch Innovation & Sustainability Summit bringing together outstanding senior business leaders, entrepreneurs, and politicians from both Sweden and the Netherlands addressing the greater trends facing us. The summit was followed by the Royal Gala Dinner celebrating the Swedish Chamber’s 60th Anniversary with entertainment, Business Award Ceremony and inspiring Dinner Speakers.
As a pleasant memory you will find photos from the event on our Anniversary page, .
Special thanks to our Exclusive sponsors Inter IKEA Systems, Handelsbanken, Saab, AKD Benelux Lawyers, and Corporate sponsors Ericsson, T. Ljungberg B.V., Klarna, KPMG Netherlands, Stena Line, Volvo Group, HEUSSEN Lawyers & Civil Law Notaries, Visit Sweden, Storytel, Scania Production Nederland, TIE Kinetix, Voerman Group, ULSI - United Logistic Services International and Exclusive flower arrangements sponsor , and our partners at Embassy of Sweden in The Netherlands.
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NEW BOARD MEMBER CANDIDATES FOR THE SWEDISH CHAMBER AGM ON JUNE 21
On June 21, 2022, we welcome the members of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands to the 62nd Annual General Meeting at the residence of the Swedish Ambassador, the Hague.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the six Board Member Candidates:
Armanda Kusse-Willems, Country Manager Lime Technologies
Dick Bisschop, Managing Director Anticimex Nederlands
Lawrence Masle, CEO UP THERE, EVERYWHERE
Roderick Friend, General Manager Tetra Pak the Netherlands
Bernie van Leeuwen, Managing Director SKF Group Nederlands
Eugene Grüter, CEO Sweco Nederlands
The Swedish Chamber AGM will be followed by a Scholarship ceremony and an address by the Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Johannes Oljelund. After the AGM, the Business Climate Survey 2022 will be presented.
The AGM is open to Members of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands, free of charge.
For more information and to register, click .
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SWEDISH CHAMBER INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT IN THE PRESENCE OF HRH CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA
On June 7, 2022, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands organized the Swedish-Dutch Innovation & Sustainability Summit in the presence of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. We brought together a great number of senior business leaders, entrepreneurs, and politicians from both Sweden and the Netherlands with a common quest for sustainability, innovation, and equal rights.
A special thank you to our Chairman of the Swedish Chamber, Johan Uhlin, the Moderator, Patrick Mesterton, and our fantastic speakers HRH Prince Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau, Special Envoy at Techleapnl, Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Stina Billinger, State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Jan Peter Balkenende, Chairman of Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition, Jon Abrahamsson Ring, CEO Inter IKEA Group, Krister Mattsson, Managing Director Ingka Investments, Ingka Group, and Head of Ingka Group Corporate Finance and Treasury, Eva Axelsson, CSO and Head of Group Sustainability Saab, Dr. Cara Antoine Women in Tech Netherlands, Martijn Hagens, CEO Vattenfall Netherlands, , Co-founder & Managing Director Norrsken, n, European Business Development Lead, B Lab Europe, Everth Flores, General Manager, Ericsson Netherlands, Sam Mirson, General Manager, Benelux Quinyx, and , Digitalization Expert, Utopia Music AG.
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen Photography
More photos from the Swedish Chamber Innovation & Sustainability Summit and Royal Gala Dinner are available
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SWEDISH CHAMBER 60TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE PRESENCE OF HRH CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SWEDEN
On June 7, 2022 the Swedish Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 60th Anniversary in the presence of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. In the morning HRH Crown Princess together with State Secretary Stina Billinger visited Edge Technologies, where the Swedish Chamber of Commerce has its offices. Coen van Oostrom, CEO of EDGE Technologies, welcomed HRH Crown Princess Victoria and explained how sustainable office buildings increase productivity and health while Dutch Special Envoy HRH Prince Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau gave a presentation about Techleapnl.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 60th Anniversary in the Netherlands with an Innovation & Sustainability Summit in the afternoon moderated by Patrick Mesterton, CEO Epicenter Stockholm, at Hotel Okura Amsterdam. HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden gave the opening keynote. Among the speakers was HRH Prince Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy at Techleap.nl, Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Stina Billinger, State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Jan Peter Balkenende, Chairman of Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition, Dr. Cara Antoine Women in Tech Netherlands, Martijn Hagens, CEO Vattenfall Netherlands and Funda Sezgi, Norrsken.
The summit was followed by a Royal Gala Dinner welcoming +300 guests to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. HRH Crown Princess handed out the Swedish Chamber Business Awards to Lynk & Co, Entrepreneur’s Award, to Inter IKEA Systems, the Achievement Award to Inter IKEA Systems and the Tech for Good Award to Ericsson. The Swedish-based Dutch singer Kim-Lian van der Meij hosted the evening and gave a fantastic musical show.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank our Executive, Corporate and Goodiebag sponsors for making this event possible and to a great success. A special thanks to the Swedish Embassy for the great collaboration in support and to Edge Technology for hosting the morning program.
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen Photography
More photos from the Swedish Chamber Innovation & Sustainability Summit and Royal Gala Dinner are available
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HRH Crown Princess handed out the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2021
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands, Embassy of Sweden in The Netherlands and Business Sweden were proud to award three Swedish companies with the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2021 on June 7, 2022. The Awards were handed out by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
Award winners
• Swedish Chamber Achievement Award 2021 – Inter IKEA Systems B.V.
• Swedish Chamber Entrepreneurship Award 2021 – Lynk & Co
• Swedish Chamber Tech for Good Award 2021 – Ericsson
The Grand Award Ceremony took place at the Swedish Chamber 60th Anniversary Royal Gala Dinner and was conducted by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. The exclusive dinner offered excellent opportunities for the Award-winning companies to present themselves and to meet the Swedish – Dutch extensive business network in the Netherlands.
"The Jury of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the 2021 Business Awards has been impressed by the quality of the companies that have taken the effort of applying for these prestigious awards. We are happy to see the impact Swedish companies have in the Dutch landscape, helping it shape into a more sustainable future and improving the lives of us all.
We could not be more proud to announce this year's winners. Please join us in congratulating the teams of Inter Ikea Systems - Achievement Award 2021, Ericsson - Tech for Good Award 2021 and Lynk & Co - Entrepreneurship Award 2021.
Thanks for your valuable words and vision to my fellow Jury Members The Ambassador of Sweden H.E. Mr. Johannes Oljelund Trade & Invest Commissioner Netherlands at Business Sweden Mr. Tomas Korseman. Also our gratitude for the amazing Kerstin Gerlagh, General Manager at Swedish Chamber of Commerce, for organising us all."
- Ruth de Jager, Country Manager Storytel, Member of the Swedish Chamber Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Jury
Photo credits: Photography
More photos from the Swedish Chamber Innovation & Sustainability Summit and Royal Gala Dinner are available
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HRH Crown Princess Victoria gave the opening keynote at the Innovation & Sustainability Summit
60 years of strengthening Swedish companies in The Netherlands: The Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Innovation & Sustainability Summit.
Inter IKEA Systems, Saab, and Ericsson are well-established brands in The Netherlands. How do they tackle the challenges to be sustainable, inclusive yet prosperous in the digital era – and what can they learn from young, innovative entrepreneurs like impact accelerator Norrsken, sustainability certification company B Lab, digitalization expert Tuva Palm, and HR tech company Quinyx?
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 60th Anniversary in the Netherlands with a conference bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, and academics to jointly address the greater trends facing us, such as Green Recovery, Impact Investing, Future Leadership, Inclusivity, and Sustainable Global Trade.
HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden gave the opening keynote. Among the speakers was HRH Prince Constantijn van Oranje-Nassau, Special Envoy at Techleap.nl, Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Stina Billinger, State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, and Jan Peter Balkenende, Chairman of Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition. Moderator Patrick Mesterton, CEO Epicenter Stockholm.
Photo credits: Photography
More photos from the Swedish Chamber Innovation & Sustainability Summit and Royal Gala Dinner are available
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