Swedish Politics and Business related to South Asia


ASEM ministers for education met in Kuala Lumpur

Asian and European ministers for education met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 13–14 May 2013 to study ways to strengthen and develop an education partnership for the 21st Century. The focus was on ”Strategizing ASEM Education Collaboration”. The meeting was part of the multifaceted and informal process of Asia-Europe Meetings (ASEM) – a forum for dialogue and cooperation between European and Asian countries – which was launched in Bangkok in 1996.
ASEM is an interregional forum which consists of 51 partners: 49 countries in Europe and Asia, plus two international organizations – the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat. In South Asia, India and Pakistan have been members since 2008, and in 2012 also Bangladesh was included. More information about ASEM.
The May 2013 meeting in Kuala Lumpur was jointly organised by the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia (MOHE) and the ASEM Education Secretariat set up in the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It discussed critical issues including quality and recognition in education as well as bringing business and industry views into planning and lifelong learning, including in technical and vocational disciplines. The aim is to enhance cooperation and encourage exchanges on key education issues between Asia and Europe. The European Commission supports a range of international education and training activities and has established policy dialogues with several countries, including many in Asia.
Education has been a top ASEM priority for many years. ASEM leaders, meeting in Helsinki in 2006, underlined the importance of education as an investment in human resources. Two years later, ASEM Education Ministers met for the first time in Berlin, Germany, to emphasise the pivotal role of education and training in ensuring economic and social development in both regions. The Second ASEM Education Ministers' meeting was held in Hanoi in 2009, and discussed the "Sharing Experiences and Best Practices on Higher Education”. At their third meeting, in Denmark in 2011, ministers underlined the need for an intensive and sustainable Asia-Europe education partnership on the basis of mutual respect and benefit. Read more.


Tomas Rosander new Swedish Ambassador to Pakistan

The Swedish Government has appointed Mr Tomas Rosander as new Ambassador to Pakistan. The decision was taken on 16th May 2013. He is currently anti-terrorism coordinator at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Security Policy Department, but has previously served at the Swedish embassies in Tehran, Washington and London, and in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Americas Department and Press, Information and Communication Department. He has also been Consul-General in Los Angeles. Mr Rosander will take up his new post in late autumn 2013.


Dramatic changes in Swedish overseas subsistence allowances in 2013

The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) has changed its method to calculate the amounts of the overseas subsistence allowances (utlandstraktamenten), an allowance that Swedish employees, for example university staff, can receive from their employers for increased living expenses while traveling overseas in business. 
Before the end of each year the Swedish Tax Agency decides on the amounts for the allowances, which vary by country. In many cases the change of method mean dramatic adjustments of the amounts for 2013 compared to previous years. 
As of January 1, 2013 the overseas subsistence allowances are reduced for 124 countries and increased for 24 countries, including all the Nordic countries. 
More information and a list of the new allowances for the eight South Asian countries as of January 1, 2013. 


Indian visa rules relaxed for most countries, and new Swedish visa handling agent

Except for nationals from seven countries, including China, Pakistan and Bangladesh, India has relaxed tourist visa rules — the two-month cooling off period between two visits has been lifted. Thisis reported by The Hindu on 4th December 2012. “The government has reviewed the provision relating to two months gap between two visits of a foreign national to India on a tourist visa…it has been decided to lift the restriction of two month gap on re-entry of foreign nationals coming to India except in the case of nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, foreigners of Pakistan and Bangladesh origins and Stateless persons,” the Indian Home Ministry said in a statement. The move was initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in early 2012.
Another important news regarding Indian visas for Swedes: The Embassy of India in Stockholm has signed a contract with M/S Cox and Kings Global Services Sweden (CKGSS) AB to provide visa services on behalf of Embassy of India, Stockholm. M/S CKGSS started collecting visa applications on 5 November 2012 in their premises at David Bagares Gata 26 B, 111 38, Stockholm (Near Hötorget Tunnelbana on Green Line) by hand and by post. With the signing of this contract, the visa fees/charges are also being reduced. The charges for 6 months tourist visa for Swedish passport holders will now be SEK 513/- for each visa (postage charges will be extra). The visa fees/charges for each other type of visa will also be reduced by SEK 113/-. More information.


Sixth Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week was held in India

For the sixth consecutive year, the Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week (SINMW) was held in India during the period 27 October – 4 November 2012. This high-profile event was organized by the Embassy of Sweden in cooperation with Exportrådet, Invest:Sweden and Swedish Energy Agency; but also companies – ABB, Atlas Copco, Ericsson, IKEA, Oriflame, SAAB, Sandvik, Scania, SEB, Tetrapak, Volvo and Volvo Cars. The theme for 2012 was The Energy of Innovations: Co-creating the Future, and it took place in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and New Delhi.
The Week which comprised a number of events – ranging from seminars and panel discussions among well-known decision makers from government and businesses as well as researchers and academicians – both from the Indian and the Swedish side; to competitions for students, to cultural performances, to exhibits, to the presence of the Nobel Chef, among others. See the programme.


SIBC seminar with Indian Ambassador successfully held in Malmö

A well attended business seminar with the new Indian Ambassador to Sweden and Latvia, Mrs. Banashri Bose Harrison, was held in Malmö on Friday, October 26, 2012. The seminar, jointly organised by the The Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden, and Invest Skåne, is part of a series of seminars held at different places in Sweden in order to highlight business relations between India and Sweden. More information on the SIBC seminar. 


Banashri Bose Harrison new Indian Ambassador to Sweden

On 9 August 2012, Ms Banashri Bose Harrison, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1981 batch with a Bengali origin, assumed the post as new Indian Ambassador of India to Sweden. She succeeds Mr. Ashok Sajjanhar who completed his term as Ambassador of India to Sweden and Latvia, and retired from the Indian Foreign Service, on 31st July 2012.
Ms. Bose Harrison obtained a postgraduate degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. She taught public finance and microeconomics to graduate and postgraduate students in Delhi University in her alma mater Miranda House for four years before moving to diplomacy.
As a career diplomat, she has dealt with a wide range of responsibilities. In New Delhi, from 1986-88, she dealt with countries in East Europe. She has also  worked in the personnel & administration wing and dealt with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and with neighbouring countries as Director from 2000-2002. On her most recent assignment in the Ministry, she headed the Central Europe Division from June, 2010 and till August 2012. Abroad, she has served in France – dealing with India’s interaction with UNESCO; in Hungary – as Commercial Counsellor and in Reunion Island – as Consul General of India. From January 2003 to October 2006, she was Deputy High Commissioner of India to South Africa. From January 2007 to May 2010, she was the head of the Commercial Wing in the Embassy of India, Washington DC. 
More information about Banashri Bose Harrison.


New Swedish Ambassador to India and Consular-General in Mumbai

Mr. Harald Sandberg (photo) has been appointed as Sweden’s next Ambassador to India. Mr. Sandberg has earlier served at the Swedish Embassy in Seoul, the Delegation in Geneva, Embassy in Washington, the Foreign Ministry’s secretariat and its unit for international trade policy. Thereafter Mr. Sandberg was the Ambassador in Jakarta, Indonesia and Seoul, South Korea before becoming the Foreign Ministry’s head of Personnel. Mr. Sandberg will be taking on his new post during the summer 2012.
On 20 June 2012, the Swedish government also appointed Fredrika Ornbrant as Consul-General in Mumbai, India. The new Consulate-General, whose core activity will be the promotion of Sweden, is expected to open in autumn 2012. Ms Ornbrant is currently serving at the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations in New York. She previously served at the Embassy in Seoul and at the International Trade Policy Department and the Security Policy Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Ms Ornbrant will take up her new post in autumn 2012. 


SIBC seminar in Lund on Indian Business Culture

Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC) organises a breakfast seminar in Lund on Wednesday 11 April 2012, 08.00–10.00. The theme for the seminar is ”Indian Business Culture”, and the speakers are Mr. Robin Sukhia, SIBC Secretary General, who will discuss the differences between Swedish and Indian business culture; and Håkan Kingstedt, Former President, Sandvik Asia Pvt. Ltd., who will share his experience from managing people and a company in India.
Register to: Info@sibc.se, no later than April 6th. Full information.


SIBC reception for departing Swedish Ambassador to India

The Sweden India Business Council (SIBC) organises a reception in honour of Sweden's departing Ambassador to India, Mr. Lars-Olof Lindgren, in Stockholm on Monday 13 February 2012, 17.00. The function is co-organized by Svensk Handel and the Swedish Trade Council. Venue: Svensk Handel, Regeringsgatan 60. Registration should be made in advance to Info@sibc.se.
Ambassador Lindgren has been Ambassador to India for 5 years. During his tenure, he has taken part in creating a number of MoU's in fields such as Health Care, Environment, Defence Equioment and more. He was also involved in the EU-India negotiations when Sweden held the EU Presidency, and been strongly engagae in promoting an increase in trade between India and Sweden. Ambassador Lindgren also started the hugely successful Nobel Memorial Week which takes place in New Delhi in October every year. During a week the Swedish Business Community is being presented in various cities all over India and more than a thousand Indian and Swedish guests take part in the mingle at the end of the week.
 

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