The government has adopted a new foreign trade strategy to enhance Sweden’s international competitiveness, increase exports of Swedish goods and services, and attract more investments and trade partners to Sweden. The goal is to promote sustainable growth and competitiveness for Swedish companies in international markets. The strategy was presented on December 1, 2023, and extends to 2030 with an initial evaluation in 2026.
SI’s Role
Much of SI’s work contributes to the new foreign trade strategy, and a central part of SI’s efforts is being expanded with new funding, while other areas are adjusted to best achieve the strategy’s goals.
Promoting Sweden
Our work is part of a broad initiative to facilitate the export and internationalization of Swedish companies, attract foreign investments and talents, and increase awareness and interest in Sweden abroad.
We provide data, analyses, and communication support to authorities, foreign missions, companies, Swedish regions, and interest organizations. By spreading information about Swedish products, services, and business opportunities to foreign markets, we focus on marketing Sweden as an innovative and competitive nation.
Several toolkits, or communication materials, will be launched. These materials provide information and offer inspiring examples and are intended for use by intermediaries worldwide. An example is “Work in Sweden,” which aims to create visibility and interest in Sweden as a career destination.
Team Sweden gathers a network of authorities and companies working together to promote Swedish exports and investments in Sweden. To broaden cooperation with Team Sweden at the local level, we are strengthening collaboration with Swedish chambers of commerce abroad. To increase the use of SI’s toolkits with associated financial support, a pilot initiative is being conducted with chambers of commerce this year.
Communication and Networking
SI works to build and maintain a strong network of contacts and partners within the business community, academia, and public institutions globally. The government has tasked SI with establishing and coordinating a Team Sweden group to enhance awareness and create positive interest and confidence in Sweden abroad. The work includes developing a communication strategy about Sweden that can be used by many actors, with the aim of strengthening Swedish competitiveness and increasing resilience against undue information influence.
The foreign trade strategy emphasizes the importance of actively spreading a fact-based and positive image of Sweden abroad to strengthen Sweden’s resilience against disinformation and information influence. Here, SI continues to play an important role as an expert in analyzing Sweden’s image and as responsible for Sweden’s digital presence on social media and Sweden’s official website, sweden.se.
In spring 2024, SI launched the newsletter “Competitiveness Sweden – Talent & Export,” which presents insights about the Swedish brand and provides inspiration and knowledge to make Swedish organizations and companies attractive globally. SI also started the LinkedIn channel “Sweden – Talent and Trade” to promote Sweden’s strengths to international companies, individuals, and investors. Additionally, SI runs a Talent Attraction Network, where public organizations share experiences and coordinate activities to market Sweden as a career destination.
Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries
We strengthen Sweden’s international influence and contribute to creating long-term and rewarding relationships between Sweden and other countries through strategic relationship-building in the cultural field and by showcasing Swedish culture.
The cultural and creative industries contribute over 20 billion SEK to Sweden’s goods exports and over 3 percent to GDP. Companies in fashion, design, music, film, TV drama, and video games have put Sweden on the map through their innovation and sustainability. Together with Swedish embassies and others within Team Sweden, SI promotes these industries in key export markets.
In 2024, SI will particularly focus on design and film and TV drama. Through initiatives like Swedish Design Movement and activities in fashion, design, and architecture, SI strengthens Sweden’s international position. In the film and TV sector, SI works to create opportunities for Sweden as a filming location and for the export of Swedish film and TV drama. In collaboration with the Swedish Film Institute, we also offer foreign missions a wide range of Swedish feature films, providing a current and rich experience of one of Sweden’s most appreciated cultural expressions.
Synergies Between Trade, Promotion, and Development Cooperation
A fundamental aim of the foreign trade strategy is to strengthen synergies between trade, promotion, and development cooperation. This is particularly relevant for the work supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine, where we have a new extensive project funding programme and conduct leadership programmes.
The Ukraine Cooperation Programme funds projects aimed at supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction, reform efforts, and EU integration. The SI Global Executive Programme leverages Swedish expertise in green transition and aims to enhance international business leaders’ ability to run socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable companies in their home countries. This fall, the Impact Pioneers ’24 program will also start, promoting contact and exchange between Swedish and foreign entrepreneurs, with green transition and growth as common goals.