Reports

As an emerging economy, South Africa has been a constantly attractive market for Swedish companies looking to expand within the region. There has been continuous investment into creating an enabling environment that fosters opportunities for economic growth. As “Team Sweden” in the region, we are constantly looking for new avenues of collaboration and growth focusing on sustainability, technology, and innovation.

In 2021 the Business Climate Survey was launched for the first time in the Netherlands. Most of the respondents, 76 per cent, then found the Dutch business climate good or very good. This year, as many as 84 per cent believe so.

Digitalisation has changed the way healthcare is planned, accessed, and delivered. Data and digital technologies are transforming healthcare networks, but the potential is only just being revealed and opportunities for growth are vast. Understanding the factors driving Sweden’s connected health sector boom is the first step to leveraging opportunities for international investment and collaboration.

In line with the overall market situation, many Swedish companies in China experienced a profitable 2021, and they saw stronger growth than the previous year. But they also faced a number of challenges. A key issue for companies was the trade impact from the pandemic as well as the barriers caused by the pandemic management in China.

Recently, Hong Kong was hit by the fifth wave of COVID-19 which took many lives and affected the city economically. Most respondents are still profitable, but the financial performance is weakening. Only a third of the companies are planning to increase their investments and some are even considering relocation. Yet, Hong Kong is still viewed to be on par with other cities or more competitive according to a majority.

As the largest economy in Europe and accounting for one quarter of the European Union’s GDP, Germany is Sweden’s most important trade partner. Throughout the turbulence of the past years, the relationship between Sweden and Germany remains strong. Most respondents expect both industry turnover and investments in Germany to increase in the coming year.

AI is not new, we have known about it’s potential since the 1940s, but it is only now that computer science has provided the power to finally begin exploring the possibilities. The inevitable rush to explore and develop AI is far-reaching and Sweden is playing a critical role in driving sustainable, ethical, and practical research and development.

The COVID-19 pandemic continued to overshadow 2021 with closed markets, travel restrictions and disruptions in supply and value chains. However, sustainability was reflected in many countries’ national recovery plans and a record number of countries announced net-zero targets. During the year, we have strengthened our global efforts to accelerate innovations and contribute to sustainable growth and green transition.

The Asia Pacific region (APAC) is the world’s most dynamic and represents a great opportunity for companies looking to expand globally. However, success is not an easy win. The cultural and economic diversity across the region means Swedish companies need to apply strategies that are agile and responsive to current market conditions.

The Asia-Pacific region (APAC) has seen decades-long rapid economic growth which has gradually shifted the global economic balance of power. With it’s massive population and stabilising economic growth, APAC’s potential and the power shift has been anticipated for a long term. However, the pace of change has happened faster than predicted, resulting in a dramatic and ongoing transformation of the business landscape.

The provision of preventative and reactive oncology continues to remain a challenge for providers within NHS England as they recover from the resource and care demands of the pandemic. Navigating the funding and project maze is key for strategic growth, and this report explores the current and future opportunities.

In the last six years India’s aviation sector has registered a growth of over 14 percent in passenger traffic. The prediction is that India is to become the world’s third largest aviation market by 2026, mainly driven by a large and growing middle class and major investments in aviation infrastructure.

European countries are being forced to review their energy production, storage, and distribution networks to mitigate the ongoing energy crisis. With EU and global net-zero targets looming, the Netherlands has set ambitious goals to reduce dependency on fossil fuelled energy and drive efficiencies in district heating networks. With rapid change needed, sustainable solutions hold the key to reaching necessary goals.

Sweden has a significant presence and a solid reputation in Mexico – Latin America’s second largest economy. Currently, there are over 150 companies in the country with a Swedish background. Swedish companies are present within most industries in Mexico, e.g., within security, construction, healthcare, retail, mining, and digital services to name but a few. Over the last decade, the Mexican economy has shown stable and robust growth providing a prosperous market for Swedish companies.

Geopolitics is tightening its grip on international trade and Swedish companies are increasingly impacted by the standoff between the superpowers. This report highlights the consequences of the US-China technology race for businesses and outlines three alternative risk scenarios to 2030.