From all of us in the board of Swedish Business Association to all of our readers of this Newsletter, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday January 9 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 Swedish government has appointed an Inquiry to study whether Sweden has lost market shares in the world export market. A key objective is to identify factors behind changes in Swedish exports of goods and services. The final report will include recommendations about policies and priorities relating to export promotion. Indonesia is one of the selected Swedish export markets visited by the Inquiry in late January. The purpose is to consult Swedish exporters of all sizes and sectors and Chambers of Commerce on their views on trade promotion policies and the development of exports. These views will be of key importance for conclusions and recommendations.

3. Embassy News

Once again the Lucia candles lit the Swedish Embassy in Jakarta. On the evening of 19 December 2007, one of Sweden’s most loved traditions was celebrated at the Swedish Residence, attended by Swedish citizens residing in Indonesia and international guests. More than 100 guests attended the reception which also offered a well-tasting Swedish Christmas Buffet and Swedish glögg. The celebration, which was postponed from the 13^th until the 19^th December due to Ambassador Bolin Pennegård’s presence at the Bali Climate Conference, included a candlelit procession by a group of children in Lucia dresses, singing Santa Lucia and other Swedish carols. The Swedish Embassy would especially like to express its gratitude to the children in the Lucia procession, Cecilia Thornber, Mia Hällefors and Mia Staiger who trained the choir and to the pianist Moeliani Lukito. We would also like to wish everyone Happy New Year 2008!

The first Nordic Business Cocktail was held on the 21st November and was a great success. Some 100 Nordic business professionals gathered together with the four Nordic Ambassadors at the Swedish ambassador's residence and the objective of the function was well achieved; to create a stronger and more well connected Nordic business community.

On a not that positive note, is the recent development in the relation between RI and Temasek, which manages the Singapore Government's investments in Indonesia. It is interesting to follow that the Indonesian government isn't aligned in the ruling from KPPU (Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition) and also in agreement on the importance of Singaporean foreign investments. I don't want to comment on the dispute itself, but my concern is that foreign investors, also outside of Asean, are seriously concerned of the development.

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday December 12 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. Sponsor this time is Dunhill cigars. There will be free cigars for anyone that wants.

The Crayfish Party from the Nordic Club will happen on Friday November 30 at 19.00. The venue will be Shangri-la Hotel. There has been a fantastic response from sponsors so there will be many interesting door prizes, raffles and with free flow of wine and Nordic spirits. Tickets are now available at club Macanudo and there are still places left for anyone that wants to come.

Håkan Nylander, Swedish Trade Council’s office in Kuala Lumpur, visited us and shared Exportrådet’s plans and ambitions for SE Asia. To note is that when Exportrådet promotes SE Asia back in Sweden, it is as a region and not individual countries and also that there are no immediate plans to open a branch office in Indonesia.

The common understanding is that we all would like to Swedish trade grow, and SBA will continue the dialogue with the Swedish Trade Council and the Swedish Embassy in order to support this to happen.

Even though we will lack Exportrådet’s physical presence, still the Trade council provides a lot of interesting and updated data related to Indonesia. http://www.swedishtrade.se/indonesien/?objectID=502.

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday November 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. Sponsor this time is Microsoft Dynamics and BMOlsson systems.

The Crayfish Party from the Nordic Club will happen on Friday November 30 at 19.00. The venue will be Shangri-la Hotel. There will be many interesting door prizes, raffles and with free flow of wine and Nordic spirits. You can already pre-book tables. Sponsors are wanted, contact me at E-mail: michael_olsson@bmolsson.net. SBA will participate this year and will ensure you a good sponsor spot and/or a table for the event. Tickets will be available at club Macanudo from November 14.

At the initiative by the board of SBA, a Nordic Cocktail will be organized twice a year. The purpose is for Nordic businessmen and Indonesian partners to network and meet with the Nordic Ambassadors. Sweden will host the first event which will be held on Wednesday 21 November, 6-8 pm. All the four Nordic Ambassadors will be attending the cocktail and we encourage you to participate. An invitation will follow. Please spread the news around!

Welcome to Indonesia Ann-Marie, our New Ambassador !

It was indeed a pleasure for the SBA members to meet Ms. Ann-Marie Bolin Pennegård, the new Swedish Ambassador for Indonesia during our recent Swedish Business Luncheon at the Mulia Hotel. She is the successor of Lennart Linnér who is now being assigned to represent Sweden in Thailand.

Indonesia is Ann-Marie’s first post in Asia and we do hope that it will be a pleasant experience, given the warmth of the Indonesian people, its culture & traditions of which truly make a lot of us to feel like home.

SBA looks forward to working together with the Embassy and the new team setup (as now also Ulf Samuelsson has left RI), in order to be the prime driver for the Swedish business in South East Asia!

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday October 10 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. Sponsor this time is BMOlsson Consulting.

The Crayfish Party from the Nordic Club will happen on Friday November 30 at 19.00. The venue will be Shangri-la Hotel. There will be many interesting door prizes, raffles and with free flow of wine and Nordic spirits. You can already pre-book tables. Sponsors are wanted, contact me at E-mail: michael_olsson@bmolsson.net. SBA will participate this year and will ensure you a good sponsor spot and/or a table for the event. More information is coming.

Where are the Swedes???

The International business community grows rapidly in Indonesia, and when looking at different trading and investment news, we see a growing interest from most parts of the world and in various sectors. In July we saw new Australian as well as Indian banks enter into the Indonesian bank sector, Chinese companies getting into the Power industry, Saudis into the Telecom, Singaporeans starting up Media & Broadcast operations. These are only a few examples, but clearly showing the opportunities in Indonesia.

The question one may ask is; how come we see very few new Swedish entrants….

2. SBA News

The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday September 12 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. Sponsor this time is PT Shields Security Systems.

The Crayfish Party from the Nordic Club will happen in November this year, due to the Ramadan. We will here make sure to keep you informed on this important annual event. Already if there are any sponsors interested, get in touch with me at E-mail: michael_olsson@bmolsson.net. SBA will participate this year and will ensure you a good sponsor spot and/or a table for the event. More information is coming.