transformations will be key driving forces

for possible mutual business cases going

forward. Mölnlycke, Sandvik, Scania,

Skanska or Tonak–these are only some of

the best examples of the great SwedishCzech cooperation in the region.

Which commodity is currently in greatest

demand in Sweden?

To answer the question at face value,

crude and refined petroleum as well as

cars are still among Sweden’s biggest

commodity imports. But to shed light on

this question in a different way, I would

say competent people, and skills, are what

is in greatest demand to continue being

a competitive and attractive global trading

partner. Innovation across all industries

is the main driver for sustainable growth

and for that you always need diverse and

motivated people working together. This

is maybe the most important conclusion

on our part, that we have a very strong

partner for continued growth and technical

cooperation in the Czech Republic.

What do you like about the Czechs?

Are they an inspiration to you? If so, what

inspires you especially?

I think you have noted, from my answers

to your other questions, that I believe that

an important motto of today could be

summarized with the word ‘cooperation’.

No country can make it on its own. In

order to prosper and flourish in a situation

with a growing competition on the global

scale, we need to be able to find good and

reliable partners. And this is an area that in

very important ways adds to what I have said

before, about the structure of our industries,

our technical knowledge and our research

facilities. Certainly, for all of these reasons,

our countries are a good match.

But I also think that we have many other

things in common, things in the more social

sphere. It might be true that Czechs and

Swedes are not among the most extroverted,

but once we open up, and when we let others

get close to us, it is clear how we in both our

countries value true partnerships based on

transparency, generosity and mutual trust.

We want long lasting relationships. And this,

I can sense very clearly, is very true also here

in the Czech Republic.

There are also great similarities in how we

want to lead our lives, with our love for

literature, the arts and nature around us. Since

I arrived here in the autumn, I have learned

a new word, the beautiful ‘mushrooming’.

Our love for the small but so important things

in life is certainly something that we have in

common. One thing that has struck me here

is the very open and curious attitude of the

Czechs. Also in these days, faced with the

pandemic, it has been very easy to meet new

and interesting people, and many of them

I am sure will become dear friends.

Mr Ambassador, thank you for the interview.

Text: redakce

Foto: archiv Fredrik Jörgensen

www.swedenabroad.se

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