Business as usual between Russia and Sweden
Business relations between Russian and Swedish entrepreneurs are continuing as usual, despite the need for more communication between the governments of the two countries, according to the general consensus of the speeches and discussions at the recent Russian–Swedish Economic Forum in Stockholm. The Forum was organized by the Russian Trade Representation in Sweden, with the focus this year being on new ideas and opportunities for Russian and Swedish investment.
“We have done a lot, and continue to do a lot. In my view, the sanctions [from the EU – Ed.] have not seriously affected growth in trade, economic, and investment relations between Russia and Sweden,” said Vladimir Dmitriev, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Co-Chair of the Russian–Swedish Business Council. Sweden, he explained, was among the 10 biggest investors in Russia. His immediate priority, he said, was to develop contacts between small and medium-sized businesses in all areas, whether agriculture and cheese production, construction, footwear manufacturing, or wallpaper manufacturing.
A specific project the Swedes are interested in, according to Dmitriev, was the Tinger all-terrain vehicle, made in Cherepovets, which is suitable for both forestry work and the tourist industry, as well as for personal and business use.
“It is made with Russian technology in Cherepovets, with more than 50% Russian parts,” he said. As Tinger CEO Oleg Kononov recounted, the company began designing its ATVs in 2009, producing their first vehicle three years later. On Thursday, a contract for Tingers to be supplied to Sweden was signed in Stockholm.
Ulf Pehrsson, Vice President for Government and Industry Relations at Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, commented: “Ericsson and other major Swedish companies have more than a hundred years of experience of investing in Russia, and we have a good relationship with Russian companies.”
At the plenary session, Russia’s trade representative in Sweden, Alexander Katasov, invited participants of the 6th Russian–Swedish Economic Form to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2017.
Source: ria.ru/economy (Russian)
