Friends,

This month the removal of parts of the fuel subsidies has been in focus, causing an increase of about 30%. It is likely to be followed by a total removal of subsidies at the end of the year, which might give another 50% increase to the consumers. This will of course have a direct impact on costs being transportation related, and indirect we can expect a negative impact on the inflation as well.

Personally I believe it is good to remove subsidies as it doesn’t benefit the vast majority of the population, however the implementation isn't done in a smooth way…

On a more positive not, I hope to see the majority of you in the Swedish community on the 6th of June, when the Embassy and SBA are having a fun and informal function, of course with smorgasbord++!

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2^nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday June 11 and we offer free flow of drinks (wine, beer, whiskey, soft drink) between 19.00 and 21.00. The self cost is IDR 100,000 per person. No prior registration needed, just come.

The Nordic Club in Jakarta invites the whole family to a traditional Midsummer celebration on 31^st May, Saturday, at International Sports Club of Indonesia (ISCI) in Jakarta. Program starts at 4:00 pm. There will be food, drinks, games and entertainment for everybody. Reservations can be made and tickets bought through Mr Björn Bolin, telephone 021 - 7279 6686 or e-mail: birchfalls@netscape.net. The surplus from the event will, through the Charity Committée of the Nordic Club, be distributed to an Indonesian kindergarten for orphans in Jakarta. Contact the Nordic Club for further information (www.sba.or.id/NC/NC_info.htm).

Indonesia Norway Business Council Invites you to enjoy an evening with free flow of beer, wine, soft drinks & finger food. The Networking Cocktail will take place on Wednesday 4 June 2008, 19.00-21:00 at CAZBAR, Kantor Taman A3.3 unit A1 Mega Kuningan Jakarta Selatan. Attendance fee is IDR 100.000 for members and IDR 150.000 for non-members. For registration or more information feel free to contact Hani Handayani at inbc_sec@inbc.or.id.

Friends,

This April consisted of two mayor events for SBA.

Firstly a breakfast meeting with Carl Bildt, Swedish Foreign Minister, who was visiting Jakarta invited by his Indonesian counterpart, bpk Hassan Wirayuda. Some 30 Swedish community members turned up and the Minister showed great interest in our business environment. The SBA members’ shared its aligned view on the business potential and also on the challenges we are facing to operate in RI. Our "reality" was well captured by the Minister, whom also draws parallels with other emerging markets.

The second event was a seminar on the topic “Sustainable cities – challenges for Indonesia”, where solutions to urban problems were discussed. I encourage you to visit www.symbiocity.org, which is the trademark that reflects all knowledge and experience in regard to the Swedish approach to sustainability. The well attended seminar was having Indonesian State Minister for the Environment, Professor Ir. Rachmat Witoelar, and the MD of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, Dr Måns Lönnroth as key note speakers. Over the sponsored lunch some SBA members presented product and solutions well in line with the topic of the day.

The conclusion from the two events is that there is an increasing interest from Sweden towards Indonesia, not the least in the area consultative services, which would support the development of the country.

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2^nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday May 14 and we offer free flow of drinks (wine, beer, whiskey, soft drink) between 19.00 and 21.00. The self cost is IDR 100,000 per person. No prior registration needed, just come.

The Nordic Club in Jakarta invites the whole family to a traditional Midsummer celebration on 31^st May, Saturday, at International Sports Club of Indonesia (ISCI) in Jakarta. Program starts at 4:00 pm. There will be food, drinks, games and entertainment for everybody. Reservations can be made and tickets bought through Mr Björn Bolin, telephone 021 - 7279 6686 or e-mail: birchfalls@netscape.net. The surplus from the event will, through the Charity Committée of the Nordic Club, be distributed to an Indonesian kindergarten for orphans in Jakarta. Contact the Nordic Club for further information (www.sba.or.id/NC/NC_info.htm).

3. Embassy News

Visit by the Swedish Foreign Minister Mr Carl Bildt; The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Bildt, visited Indonesia 21-22 April at the invitation of the Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda. The successful visit was the first bilateral visit by a Swedish Foreign Minister in Indonesia.

Friends,

The SBA annual meeting was held at Club Macanudo on the 17^th of March. The SBA Board for 2008 consists of Bengt Thornberg(chairman),Ted Boman (vice chairman), Stefan Meurling (treasurer), Michael Olsson was (secretary), Per Thuresson and Jörgen Johansson (additional members of the board). On behalf of the board I'd like to say thank you for the support over the last year and trust for the year to come.

I'd also like to give all SBA members a heads up regarding a gathering on the Swedish National Day, 6th of June. The Board will arrange a fun and informal dinner together with our spouses, and I will get back later with details.

2. SBA News

The annual meeting went of as planned on March 17 and a new board was elected. The new board looks like follows:

• Chairman - Bengt Thornberg (Ericsson)
• Vice Chairman - Ted Boman (Oriflame)  
• Treasurer - Stefan Meurling (Surya Advisorindo)
• Secretary - Michael Olsson (BMOlsson)
• Board member - Per Thuresson (Lux)
• Board member - Jörgen Johansson (Shields)
• Deputy - Ola Dahlman (Mediserv)
• Deputy - Per Brandt (Perstorp)

During the board meeting it was also decided that SBA will enter the IBC (International Business Chamber) as a full member. There are now additional reasons for you to become a member of SBA. If any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me (michael_olsson@bmolsson.net) or anyone else on the board.

Friends,

Indonesia's economy grew at the highest rate in a decade in 2007, and this is also reflected in the results for many multinational companies operating in RI. Interesting enough is that at the latest SBA luncheon, the Embassy informed that the Swedish export statistics are showing a decline in 2007. This is likely to depend on some companies having an increasing production outside of Sweden, such as India and China, which creates a not fully true picture. On top, Swedish companies has also a quite large Service component in its business that is not reflected at all.

Bottom line is that the Swedish business community is doing better and better. I'm happy to welcome all new initiatives to increase it even further, and recently I learnt that that the Swedish Trade Council will open a rep. office in Jakarta. This shows that we have gotten our voice heard and we believe this initiative will bring the Swedish trade in Indonesia to the next level!

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2^nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday March 13 and we offer free flow of drinks (wine, beer, whiskey, soft drink) between 19.00 and 21.00. The self cost is IDR 100,000 per person. This time we are sponsored by BMOlsson Group (Holdings) . No prior registration needed, just come.

Visit by Mr Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden to Indonesia 23-24 April, On 23-24 April, Mr Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, will visit Indonesia on the invitation of Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. The program is not yet ready, but it is envisaged it will include i.a. an inaugural speech together with Dr Wirajuda on Human Rights Dialogue Meeting between Sweden and Indonesia, bilateral consultations with Foreign Minister Wirajuda and some other Ministers, as well as a key note address at a business and development seminar on urban challenges.

Friends,

As we now have just started a new year, me and the board would be grateful to get suggestions on how we can take SBA to the "next level". We have the fundamentals in place such as a committed Board, relations to other chambers, web portal, being in a high growth market, etc. As several of you have been working in other countries, I'd appreciate if you could share any best practices from other parts of the world in order to support our Vision.

As you can read below under the info from the Foreign Ministry, there is an inquiry initiated by the Swedish government with the purpose to analyze a declining development of Swedish trade export. http://www.sou.gov.se/utredningar/departementsordning/utrikes/index.htm.

Me and a couple of the members had the opportunity to meet the inquiry. It was an interesting to share thoughts/ learnings and the representatives were well anchored into the reality. I believe SBA could contribute to this initiative even further, why at the next luncheon, (end February), I'd like us to discuss what kind government activities we recommend, which then will be fed back to the inquiry in a structured way.

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2^nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday February 13 and we offer free flow of drinks (wine, beer, whiskey, soft drink) between 19.00 and 21.00. The self cost is IDR 100,000 per person. This time we are sponsored by Patroli Weekly. No prior registration needed, just come.

We are now also closing in on the annual meeting and the election of a new board. If anyone have interest in getting active in the Swedish Business Association, please let us know. The annual meeting will happen during the early March and all members are welcome. More information will be released in our next newsletter and all eligable members will receive an invitation. If any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me (michael_olsson@bmolsson.net) or anyone else on the board.