WITH INCREASED GLOBALISATION, competition in all lines and sectors of business is getting tougher. To maintain competitiveness in Sweden and the Nordic area, the Nordic Prime Ministers agreed in a June 2007 meeting on guide lines for stronger Nordic collaboration regarding globalisation
issues. In 2008, Sweden is hosting the Nordic Council of Ministers and one of its goals is to highlight the globalisation issue and take concrete initiatives in this area.
SWEDEN'S MINISTER FOR ENTERPRISE and Energy, Maud Olofsson, was invited to the event together with other politicians from the Nordic area as well as authorities and companies to discuss how to improve entrepreneurship in the area.
- To remain a leading growth and innovation region, questions like environmental technology, research, women’s business enterprise, financing and creative industry is extremely important, says Maud Olofsson.
HALLDÓR ÁSGRÍMSSON, general secretary of the Nordic Council of Ministers, spoke about increased globalisation and new challenges facing
the Nordic area. He stated that there will have to be radical adjustments in all political areas to maintain competitiveness in the Nordic area.
- The most important market is no longer within country borders, but in many cases around the world. No business or sector is excluded from competition. This is a chance and a challenge that we should take advantage of, he points out.
TO STRENGHTEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP in the Nordic area and make it more internationally competitive, creativity and capital is essential, says Signhild Arnehård Hansen, chair person at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.
- The problem is not a lack of ideas. It is all about implementation, she says.
Emelie Ring
Source: Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and Norden.org