Mention Sweden and POP or “popular” comes to mind: popular furniture, popular cars and trucks, popular music, popular BPO employer, popular fashion or clothing, and popular award. Swedish companies, brands or products are not unfamiliar to Filipinos, perhaps, though, not conscious that they come from Sweden.
There’s IKEA for pop furniture with ingenious designs; VOLVO which is touted as the maker of the safest cars and trucks in the world; TRANSCOM as the largest Swedish employer in the country; and, of course, the highly-popular H&M home and fashion brand.
Popular music would count such bands and artists as ABBA, Ace of Base, The Cardigans, Roxette and, most recently. Avicii and the very sultry Zara Larsson.
And then there is the Nobel Prize, perhaps the most prestigious of its kind in the world.
Sweden has had excellent business and diplomatic relations with the Philippines for 70 years now. However, in 2008, the Scandinavian country decided to close its embassy here and just maintain a consulate because relations between both countries never waned.
Last year saw a new era to the strong and existing business and diplomatic relations as Sweden re-opened its embassy with the new Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Harald Fries. Prior to the opening, a Swedish business delegation arrived on the strength of increased interest in partnerships and opportunities.
The Wallenberg family is a world-renowned Swedish family of industrialists and bankers who have often entered into politics and foreign service. They are considered the Rockefellers or Gettys of Sweden.
The Wallenbergs have developed Swedish business for 160 years and have substantial investments in large Swedish corporations such as Ericsson, Electrolux, SAS, ABB, Atlas Copco and others, exercised through their investments and holding companies, Investor AB and Foundation Asset Management AB. According to an internet source, it is said that at one time or the other, the Wallenberg family controlled one-third of the GDP of Sweden.
There was a plan for the Wallenbergs to send a representative here this year for a visit. Last year, however, Mr. Jacob Wallenberg, a fifth-generation member and acknowledged head of the Wallenberg family, came over as part of the Business Sweden delegation. This was a good sign as it further showed how bullish Sweden was about the Philippines.
Of course, equally bullish about the prospect of Swedish investments here are Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez who, from day one of his stint with the DTI, has been tirelessly promoting not just MSMEs but also international trade relations. Equally up to the task together with Secretary Mon are his able Undersecretary for Industry Promotions and Board of Investments Governor Nora K. Terrado, as well as Undersecretary for Industry Development and Board of Investments Vice-Chairman and Managing Head Dr. Ceferino Rodolfo, Ph.D. You cannot get more powerhouse than that.
Indeed, more Swedish investments in the country would mean more confidence of the European Community in doing business here.
As they say in Sweden, Slutet Gott Allting Gott! Meaning, “all’s well that ends well”.