Opinions & Interviews
Swedish companies considering business opportunities in Belarus’ regions
Photo from the archive
MINSK, 5 June (BelTA) – A dialogue with Swedish companies about opportunities for work in regions of Belarus is always in progress. The statement was made by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Belarus Christina Johannesson during Sweden Day hosted by the V.I. Lenin Gomel Oblast Universal Library on 5 June, BelTA has learned.
The diplomat noted that as of 1 September the embassy will once again have a representative of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). “A number of various Sweden-Belarus projects are in progress in Belarus. We are considering possible opportunities for work in the regions,” Christina Johannesson noted. She stressed that the dialogue with Swedish companies about this matter is always in progress.
The ambassador said she was confident that a group of companies will emerge in the near future that will be able to suggest concrete ideas, including for Gomel Oblast. Christina Johannesson stressed that there is already an example of cooperation in the region: a company makes products for IKEA. In turn, this Swedish company is busy implementing the strategy Go Belarus and seeks suppliers, creates production assets in the country. The diplomat did not rule out the possibility that other similar initiatives may emerge. “It will be a matter of negotiations between businessmen and companies. The fact that positive experience of cooperation in this sphere is available certainly demonstrates that one can come with a manufacturing project to Gomel Oblast,” she believes.
Opportunities to get familiar with Sweden’s traditions and culture are available in the Gomel library today. The ambassador welcomed guests of the celebration while wearing a national costume from the northern parts of Sweden. “When she was a young girl 90 years ago, my grandmother wove the fabric, sewed the attire, and embroidered it,” Christina Johannesson said.
She stressed that Gomel and the oblast library in particularly always embrace suggested ideas with enthusiasm. She said she was confident that cooperation will continue. The diplomat gifted books translated into Belarusian and a statuette of the Swedish elk to the library.
The quiz show What? Where? When? in the Gomel Oblast library is part of Sweden Day’s program. The ambassador prepared a special question the experts will be asked. Veronika Fomina, who has passed an internship course on the Scandinavian peninsula, will tell visitors about felting traditions and techniques in Sweden and Belarus.
A musical drawing room is open in the library today. Participants of the Swedish project ShareMusic & PerformingArts will share mastery with people with reduced capabilities. A musical inspired by Sven Nordqvist’s fairy-tales and performed by the musicians Andrus Takindang and Valeria Volodko will be presented on the library’s stage. A photo exhibition Access Ability of the Swedish Institute and an exhibition of books are also available today.
The event is timed to National Day of Sweden (or Swedish Flag Day), which is marked on 6 June. The event has been organized by the V.I. Lenin Gomel Oblast Universal Library and the Embassy of Sweden in Belarus.
print version
make home page
add to bookmarks
