Ole Frijs-Madsen: Denmark Invests in Water Management to Produce

INVESTORS IN MSK V Moravskoslezském kraji jsme i dříve jednali ohledně vodohospodářství a zlepšování hospodaření s vodou. Vodohospodářství je silným dánským odvětvím, existuje nějaká spolupráce v této oblasti mezi našimi zeměmi? Je něco přenositelné do Česka? Stoprocentně. Největší prostor pro vzájemnou spolupráci vidíme ve sdílení zkušeností a technologií zaměřených na snižování spotřeby vody a energie při hospodaření s vodou. V Dánsku například získáváme elektrickou energii i z odpadní vody, respektive kalů. Kaly a odpadní voda se pak stávají zdrojem. Ohřevem kalů se získává bioplyn a následně elektrická energie nebo se z něj vyrábí hnojivo či těží cenné kovy či fosfor. Pro takové investice je ovšem potřeba mít kapitál. V Dánsku do vody investujeme, také máme nejdražší vodu v Evropě. Na druhou stranu, od Česka se můžeme naučit lépe hospodařit s vodou v domácnostech. Češi mají nižší spotřebu vody, a to 89,2 na osobu na den, l Dánsko spotřebuje 105 l vody na osobu na den. Existuje mnoho významných českých exportérů, kteří již se skandinávskými zeměmi dlouhodobě spolupracují. Jací jsou Češi jako obchodní partneři? Dánové oceňují spolehlivost, kreativitu a pracovní nasazení českých zaměstnanců. Češi a české firmy mají v Dánsku dobrou pověst. Obecně vzato ale máme i pár rozdílů v obchodní kultuře. Někdy narážíme na omezené znalosti angličtiny nebo třeba na to, že jsou Češi při jednání formálnější než Dánové. Také se Češi snaží vyhnout negativní odpovědi a ctí hierarchii ve firmě. Pane velvyslanče, děkujeme Vám za rozhovor. Denmark Invests in Water Management to Produce Energy Ole Frijs-Madsen was born in 1960. He has been the ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Czech Republic since September 2017. He has operated under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1987 and, apart from ambassadorial offices, he has held many diplomatic functions in Copenhagen, Geneva and London. He studied law at the University of Copenhagen with a specialization in European Union law. What do you think makes the Moravian-Silesian Region stand out? In what direction would you see the possibility of cooperation? And what interesting projects in the Moravian-Silesian Region have you recently participated in? The Moravian-Silesian Region excels in many areas--from nature, culture, and universities to its industry and strategic location near Poland and Slovakia. Danes are interested in business opportunities there, especially in the steel and engineering industries. Our companies offer a number of innovations and technologies that help to treat natural resources with care, whether it is water or clean air. Several Danish companies have selected the MoravianSilesian region for their business activities. The Danish company DLF Seeds, s.r.o., which researches and manufactures premium grass and forage mixtures, invests and manufactures here. We also have the manufacturer of insulation materials, Rockwool, and the manufacturer of luxury electronics, Bang & Olufsen, based in the region. The last meeting we had with representatives of the Moravian-Silesian Region was with the governor and the mayor of Ostrava regarding the DanubeOder-Elbe canal. In the Moravian-Silesian Region, we have previously discussed how to improve water management. Water management is a strong Danish industry. Is there any cooperation in this area between our countries? Is there anything transferable to the Czech Republic? Absolutely. We see the greatest potential for cooperation in knowledge-sharing and technologies aimed at reducing water and energy consumption in water management. In Denmark, we can also obtain electricity from wastewater or sludge–they then become a source. Heating sludge, for example, produces biogas and then electricity. It could also be used to produce fertilizer, or to extract precious metals or phosphorus. However, such investments require capital. In Denmark, we invest in water. We have the most expensive water in Europe. On the other hand, Czechia can teach us how to better manage water in households. Czechs have lower water consumption, namely 89.2 liters per person per day, while Denmark has 105 liters per person per day. There are many important Czech exporters who have been cooperating with the Scandinavian countries for a long time. What are Czechs like as business partners? In general, Danes appreciate the reliability, creativity and hard work of Czech employees. Czechs and Czech companies have a good reputation in Denmark. However, we also have a few differences in business culture. Sometimes we come across limited knowledge of English, or perhaps the fact that Czechs are more formal in negotiations than Danes. Czechs also try to avoid negative answers and respect the hierarchy in the company. Text: redakce Foto: archiv Ole Frijs-Madsen Mr Ambassador, thank you for the interview. www.tjekkiet.um.dk POSITIV 1/2021 ǀ 49