Swedish chamber launched in Qatar

The embassy of Sweden in Qatar has announced the formal launch of theSwedish Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (SCCQ) held recently in Doha, andis expected to build on the “steadily growing” business and investmentties between the two countries. According to ambassador Ewa Polano, the SCCQ represents “the commitmentto a long-term investment in Qatar’s future development with Sweden as astrong and valued partner.”The SCCQ board of directors comprises ABB Qatar managing director GusAbboud, commercial officer Mattias Nordfeldt of the Swedish embassy,Ericsson country director (Qatar) Shadi Sayed, Gulf Agency Company/GACgeneral manger Daniel Nordberg, SAAB country director (Qatar) JohanAhlberg, QTIC chairman Abdulla Albinali  and Domasco managing directorFaisal Sharif (representing Volvo cars, trucks, and buses).“In 2015, the new government in Sweden presented for the first time anexport strategy, and also announced thereby that 26 countries in theworld shall be given extra focus and attention from the government inorder to nurture trade and investment relations with these countriesduring the period 2015-2020. I was very glad to see that our newlyopened embassy in Doha had led my government to include Qatar in these26 countries,” Polano said.“Further on, the export strategy requested all Swedish ambassadorsaround the world to establish in each country a ‘Team Sweden’. It was anhonour to launch in Doha in February 2016 ‘Team Sweden’ in Qatar,”Polano added.In each country, Polano said ‘Team Sweden’ shall include active Swedenpromotion organisations. In Qatar, the ambassador said the embassyincluded organisations like ‘Business Sweden: Swedish Trade &Investment Council’ and the ‘Alumni Sweden Network in Qatar’. “I am gladto chair our Team Sweden here in Doha, but we missed one importantcomponent – a Swedish Chamber of Commerce – and since we have nowlaunched it, Team Sweden in Qatar is complete,” Polano said.She said Team Sweden in Qatar, in partnership with Qatari stakeholders,will pursue initiatives in green technologies, sustainability, quality,high-tech, ICT, transportation, renewable energy, and safety.