Dragon News - No. 3, 2014

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M E M B E R M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E S W E D I S H C H A M B E R S O F C O M M E R C E I N G R E AT E R C H I N A H O N G K O N G | B E I J I N G | S H A N G H A I | TA I P E I

No.03

2014

22

Thomas Ekberg Helping people fulfill their dreams

24

Joel Adrian Fighting with celebrities

28

Bonnie RoupĂŠ An innovator and a conscious capitalist

Sweden shows off its design muscle

In December, Sweden will be the partner country at Asia’s leading annual design, innovation and brand event. Sweden will showcase its design strength, which amounts to much more than just IKEA and H&M.

Publisher The Swedish Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and China For advertising inquiries, please contact respective chamber’s office The opinions expressed in articles in Dragon News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.

Editorial management, design and printing Bamboo Business Communications Ltd Tel: +852 2838 4553 Fax: +852 2873 3329 www.bambooinasia.com bamboo@bambooinasia.com Art director: Johnny Chan Designer: Victor Dai English editor: Chris Taylor Cover photo: Design S/Svensk Form INQUIRIES Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Room 2503, 25/F, BEA Harbour View Centre 56, Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2525 0349 Email: chamber@swedcham.com.hk Web: www.swedcham.com.hk General Manager: Eva Karlberg Marketing Manager: Louise Herrlin Finance Manager: Anna Mackel

CONTENTS

No.032014 6

4

Editorial

6

Gallery: Swedish Design S award winners

8

Snippets

10 Cover story: Sweden shows off its design muscle 22 Executive talk: Thomas Ekberg 24 Young Professional interview: Joel Adrian 28 Feature: Bonnie Roupé

INQUIRIES Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China Room 313, Radisson Blu Hotel 6A, East Beisanhuan Road, Chaoyang District Beijing 100028, People’s Republic of China Tel: +86 10 5922 3388, ext 313 Fax: +86 10 6464 1271 Email: info@swedishchamber.com.cn Web: www.swedishchamber.com.cn Office Manager Beijing: Karin Roos Webmaster: Jaycee Yang Finance Assistant: Klara Wang

30 Chamber activities in Hong Kong

Shanghai contact Office Manager Shanghai: Marianne Westerback Event Manager: Emma Gunterberg Sachs Tel: +86 21 6217 1271 Fax: +86 21 6217 0562 Mobile: +86 1368 179 7675 Email: shanghai@swedishchamber.com.cn

38 Chamber news

Taipei contact Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei Room 1101 International Trade Building 333, Keelung Road, Sec 1, Taipei 11012 Tel: +886 917 757 657 Email: louise@swedchamtw.org Web: www.swedchamtw.org CEO: Louise Byström

10

22

32 Chamber activities in Beijing 34 Chamber activities in Shanghai 36 Chamber activities in Taipei

28

42 New members 48 After hours 50 The chamber and I: Members view on healthcare

Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China

ADVERTISERS APC Logistics page 35, Asia Perspective page 21, Atlas Copco page 37 Bamboo page 27, B&B Tools page 51, Finnair page 2 Environmental Air of Sweden (EAS) page 49, Ericsson page 19, Executive Homes page 47, Geodis Wilson page 17, Greencarrier page 20

Thank you!

APC Logistics for your immense generosity shipping and distributing Dragon News in China, Hong Kong, Asia and Sweden.

Radisson Blu page 18, Scania page 9, SEB page 5, Sigtuna Boarding School page 43

Iggesund Paperboard for being the proud sponsor for the paperboard cover sheet of Dragon News magazine in 2012.

Cover printed on Invercote® Creato 220gsm.

Swedbank page 41, Unimer page 47, Vinge page 33, Volvo page 39

The Swedish Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and China

Handelsbanken page 52, Hellström page 49, Iggesund Paperboard page 45 IKEA page 25, Mannheimer Swartling pages 31, Nordea page 48

DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 3

Jon Hicks/Corbis/Scanpix

EDITORIAL

When it’s time to do business, we’re exceptionally open.

Katarina Nilsson Chairman Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China

Ulf Ohrling Chairman Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

The recipe for creativity Dear Reader, At a time when traditional industrial jobs are decreasing in Sweden, creative industries are growing. Swedish enterprises that broadly focus on fashion and design, such as IKEA and H&M, are experiencing huge success around the world and not least in China. The Swedish gaming and IT industry is another example, with forerunners such as Skype, Spotify, King (Candy Crush Saga), Mojang (Minecraft), among others.

Swedish enterprises engaged in the creative industries have provided hundreds of thousands of jobs – a great deal of them manufacturing jobs in China. Through creative industries, not only Swedish design but also Swedish lifestyle concepts are spreading to the Chinese laobaixing, as common Chinese people become increasingly familiar with Billy bookshelves, and the names of the tiny villages in Sweden that lend their names to IKEA products. Swedish enterprises make it possible to have good design and fashionable clothes at affordable prices – perhaps perceived by the Chinese consumers as an act of rén, or benevolence, in a society increasingly marked by a division between the common people and the super – and sometimes quite literally filthy – rich, and in which the cost of living is rising rapidly.

The transition from industrial

manufacturing to an economy increasingly based on creativity seen in Sweden is a transition high on the wish list of the Chinese government, a move from “made in China” to “created in China”. The Chinese are traditionally accused of not being creative, only good copycats.

As representatives of the Swedish chambers, we are occasionally unofficially asked by Chinese government officials what it takes for creativity to thrive. The honest answer is that it is not an easy recipe to reproduce. After all, Sweden’s creativity stems from the fact it is an open and free society that is open to foreign influences. Sweden also has a great engineering tradition driven more by pride in invention and skill than pure eagerness to make fast money.

Swedes are lucky in that they do not need to worry about meeting daily needs and they have time to engage in interests that sometimes lead to great inventions and innovations. Research has shown that money is not the answer to creativity once basic needs are met, and the following key factors are the main drivers: challenge – to improve; mastery – to become really good at something; selfdirection – for the individual to decide on what to do and how; and a sense of a purpose (other than simply money).

Meanwhile, the question about creativity

gives rise to other questions. Is real creativity possible in a society that lacks total openness and freedom for its citizens? Does the Chinese education system promote creativity or does it stifle it by teaching that there is only one correct answer? Is self-direction a trait that is promoted when collective thinking is the norm? Are mistakes and trial and error – vital to the creative process – considered acceptable in China? Is it actually true that the Chinese lack creativity?

It is a fair conclusion to say that the Chinese are basically no less creative than any other nationality. Who in the world is more creative at finding ways around rules and regulations than the Chinese, for example? However, when it comes to the explosion of the number of patents and patent applications in China, it is fair to question whether it is the result of genuine creative skills, or rather the skills of consultants that assist companies to achieve tax incentives tied to research and development.

As is the case for successful Swedish companies in the creative industries, it will take a healthy mix of creativity and a good business sense to commercially utilise creative ideas. Moreover, it is likely that for these ideas to work it will be necessary to promote the right to think in new and different ways – true creativity does not come about through mere purchasing power or tax incentives.

Every business has a different story and a different goal. We understand that.

Over many years in this market of unique opportunities, we’ve developed the local knowledge, resources and connections needed to turn ambitions into reality. That’s why we’re one of the most well-established northern European banks in the region. For corporates, financial institutions and private banking clients, we’re ready to listen and cater to your needs – in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi.

Discover more at www.sebgroup.com/asia

4 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

More Design S winners in this issue

Swedish Design S award winners Design S is Sweden’s national design award.

Design S singles out creative and innovative solutions in every imaginable area of products, services and environments, regardless of the design field. The award has been presented every second year since 2006. Design S rewards both designers and companies. Nominees are included in a touring exhibition, which will come to Hong Kong during Business of Design Week in December this year.

Delta 26 Open Client: Delta Power Boats Design: Ted Mannerfelt, Mannerfelt Design Team Jury statement: “Even in the world of boating, the Delta 26 stands out with its space-saving charm. From stem to stern, it exudes a maritime identity of classic seaworthiness combined with futurism and elegance. Vigorous down to the smallest detail.”

Cover: Verk, Fä, Havet and Frank Client: Snickeriet Design: Karl-Johan Hjerling, Karin Wallenbeck Jury statement: “An uncompromising and beautiful furniture range whose every component functions equally well on its own.

A poetic choice of materials combined with craftsmanship and a personal care for details creates objects without the usual compromises of serial production. A range of art furniture, which also calls into question the concepts of functionality … weight and lightness.”

Photo: Design S/Svensk Form SOURCE: design-s.se

Braille Box Client: Index Braille Design supplier: SKAPA Design: Jens Kallin, Max David Eriksson Jury statement: “Braille Box is a masterpiece of industrial design, beautiful to feel, hear and look at.

A wholly consistent answer to a difficult design challenge that, with obviousness and elegance, creates both user experience and export successes.”

6 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Panthera X Client: Panthera Design: Leif Thies, Gestalt Industriell Design; Mikael Engblom, 2dD; Björn Alvtegen, Alvtegen Design; Jalle Jungnell and Per Mårtensson, both Panthera.

Jury statement: “A user experience with a strong sense of freedom.

Panthera offers delightfully easy propulsion and driving pleasure. An ultra-light seat/vehicle that truly frees its rider.”

Bolon Create Client: Bolon Design: Marie Eklund Jury statement: “Rugged plastic flooring with a fascinating three-dimensional look and base material in vinyl using recyclable raw materials with the highest possible wear resistance. Gliding, shifting patterns depending on how the light falls or where in the room you are standing.

Very much alive, this floor is worth a starring role.”

Kaskad Client: Nola Industrier AB Design: Björn Dahlström Jury statement: “With an obvious economy of materials Kaskad fills a hole in the range of available seating furniture for outdoor use. The form is inviting and encompassing, and the seating comfort is high, with or without cushions. Here is an easy chair that asserts its presence without arresting the gaze. Equally self-evident as a solitary chair for lounging in the garden arbour or as an easily placed complement to an outdoor café.”

Herbarium Client: Kasthall Design: Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg Jury statement: “With its kaleidoscopic pattern and a three-dimensional textile experience, Herbarium creates the impression of a poem in the form of a floor rug. With a personal feel, a pattern is created on the floor that conjures up a tapestry in a fine salon. A pattern that can be viewed for a long time and, like a pressed flower or classic haute couture, survives season after season.”

Page 10: Kaleido Client: Hay (Denmark) Design: Clara von Zweigbergk Jury statement: “A strict system [of steel trays] with lively combination possibilities.

Simple and ingenious, with a clever production technique. This design with its purity of style is hugely attractive and will live for a long time.”

EzyStove Client: Creative Entrepreneur Solutions (Namibia) Design: August Michael, Elisabeth Ramel-Wåhrberg, Håkan Bergkvist, Mårten Andrén, Stefan Strandberg, Jonas Dolk, Ergonomidesign Jury statement: “A stove innovation that, with an ingenious woodfeeding system and high energy efficiency, can make it easier to cook food over an open flame anywhere in the world. Major health benefits at a low-production cost saves lives and the environment.”

Page 11: OP-1 Client: Teenage Engineering Design: Teenage Engineering Jury statement: “One wants to press all the buttons and turn every control [of this portable synthesizer]. A technological product that, through a clever colour scheme and fantastic graphics, is intuitive, easily accessible and incredibly inviting. Music and machine in one.”

DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 7

C r e at i v e S n i p p e t s A great place for micro-brands n In 1951, a Police Married Quarters (PMQ) building was constructed on Hong Kong Island, close to the former Central Police Station, as a dormitory for young police officers, since the influx of refugees to Hong Kong after the revolution in China two years earlier had created a need for more officers to maintain the law.

Today, the PMQ building has been converted to a creative hub with a focus on design.

One of the tenants on the sixth floor in the PMQ building is C’monde Studios, run and owned by Johan M Persson, a Swedish native who has been working in Hong Kong for the past decade and has a more than 20-year track record of brand and design management in Europe, the US and China. He was recently ranked by the website theculturetrip.com as one of the Top 10 product designers in Hong Kong.

Persson thinks that the Hong Kong government, together with the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, are doing the right things when it comes to developing Hong Kong as a creative hub in Asia.

“If you want to develop a city, you need to attract educated and creative people. This is done by offering a broad cultural platform. Look at New York, London and Paris – they all have that,” he says.

Persson previously headed a Swedish design joint

QUOTE “Design is undoubtedly part of the fabric of society, economy and culture.”

Victor Lo, chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, in a message at the centre’s website.

8 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

venture in Hong Kong but started C’monde – French slang for “this world” – in 2009. The studio primarily works with western brands and manufacturers in China.

“That is where our western background, location and knowledge can add most value. We also work with a range of creative freelancers in different fields to broaden our service offerings,” he says.

C’monde works with the entire supply chain, from sourcing factories to industrial design and product and service branding.

“I’ve designed a lot of audio electronics and because I’ve worked extensively with brands like Sony Ericsson and I’m a musician and drummer in a local band in Hong Kong, I can offer a lot of insight into the design and development of these kinds of products,” says Persson.

Hong Kong is known for its many so-called microbrands – that is small brands in niche markets. “There are many smaller fashion brands in Sweden that could have great opportunities if they established themselves in Hong Kong, where many distributors are screaming for unique and creative brands to fill the shop shelves of the city’s many shopping malls,” says Persson.

“If you want to develop a city, you need to attract educated and creative people,” says Johan M Persson.

Network for creative Swedes n Hong Kong is a great place to be for companies in creative industries. The city is multicultural, it has excellent communications, several top universities, and – not least – it is close to China, where much of the production takes place.

Earlier this year, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Boris Design Studio initiated the start-up of a network called Creative Swedes in Hong Kong (see also page 40).

“The idea is to bring together Swedish creative entrepreneurs and designers that are working in Hong Kong and arrange meetings and events on a regular basis,” says Katarina Ivarsson, who founded Boris Design Studio in 2009 together with Anna Karlsson.

Boris is a Hong Kong-based design studio that primarily focuses on product design, identity design and design research. They serve clients from Asia, Europe and the US. “The fact that we are dealing with such a broad range of projects is something that truly strengthens our knowledge of trends, materials applications and production,“ says Anna Karlsson.

“The things we do within design research inspire our product design projects and vice versa.”

“For overseas customers it’s a great advantage to work with people that are already based in Hong Kong. If there’s a problem in a factory in South China we can be there in person within an hour to check the quality,” says Anders P Hellberg, who is

The people behind the Creative Swedes in Hong Kong network are, from left, Pontus Karlsson, Anna Karlsson, Anders P Hellberg and Katarina Ivarsson.

responsible for product and packaging at Boris.

Ivarsson, Karlsson and Hellberg have linked up with the entrepreneur Pontus Karlsson of Happy Rabbit to get the Creative Swedes in Hong Kong network started.

Pontus Karlsson’s firm, Happy Rabbit, was established in Hong Kong in 2008. Happy Rabbit is a fashion agency with offices in China, Thailand, Portugal and Turkey as well. The company is helping its clients not only with traditional sourcing of apparel and accessories but also with productdesign development and quality control. Among its clients are both big international brands, such as Adidas and Columbia Sportswear, and Swedish fashion brands like Acne and Gudrun Sjödén.

“The consumption patterns for fashion are changing all the time and you need to act fast and be perceptive. In that sense, Hong Kong is a perfect place for spotting trends. You meet a lot of people here, there are many trade fairs, it’s really a hub for our industry,” says Karlsson.

In

Photo: Design S/Svensk Form

2012, Victor Lo, chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, which is the organiser of the annual Business of Design Week (BODW), approached Jörgen Halldin, the Swedish consul-general in Hong Kong.

The event is Asia’s leading annual event on design, innovation and brands.

Dr Lo explored if Sweden would like to be considered as a partner country for the BODW in 2014 which is an event that normally takes place in the first week of December.

Halldin brought it up with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and in the summer of 2013 the Swedish government decided to sign a letter of intent and join as a partner country for the event in December 2014. Indication of partnership from Sweden would include an exhibition, which is now on its way, and a delegation with high-level representation.

The Kaleido steel trays are one of the Design S awards.

In December, Sweden will be the partner country at Asia’s leading annual design, innovation and brand event. Sweden will showcase its design strength, which amounts to much more than just IKEA and H&M. Text: Jan Hökerberg, Bamboo, jan.hokerberg@bambooinasia.com

10 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Besides the actual event, which takes place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), there will also be opportunities for Swedish companies to market themselves elsewhere in the city – for example by opening so-called pop-up stores in SoHo district’s former Police Married Quarters (PMQ), which has recently been transformed to a trendy hub for design entrepreneurs and brands. The Swedish organisers estimate there will be three to five Swedish pop-up stores and also an exhibition in PMQ. “The partnership will definitely benefit Sweden as a nation and build our national brand,” says Johan M Persson, creative director and owner of C’monde Studios, which in May this year moved to an office in the PMQ building in Hong Kong (see article on page 8).

The Swedish organisers are also looking to use the event to develop the brand Sweden in mainland China.

Over thousands of years of history, the Chinese have formed a moral code that has played an important role in social development and progress.

These traditional virtues still have a great significance today, so for this year’s issues of Dragon News, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce has picked four of the virtues to serve as guiding stars for the content of the magazine: l (proper behaviour), xiào (filial piety), rén (benevolence) and dé (a power that shows the way).

In this issue we have used rén as our inspiration. It is the foundational virtue of Confucianism and stands for benevolence, humanity and goodness. In our cover story, we focus on Swedish creativity and design, which is characterised by simple lines, functionality and sustainable materials – that is, the good things in life.

“It’s our ambition that a third of the Swedish speakers will also speak in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing,” says Halldin.

Swedish design is known to be sleek and stylish. It uses simple lines, breathing space and natural materials such as beech, oak and walnut harvested from sustainably managed forests.

As the journalist and author Nina Kozel writes in her book Design: The Groundbreaking Moments, “Typical for Scandinavian design is beauty radiated through light colour, the ample use of wood, and minimalism and functionality.”

Blomdahl of the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design says, “Our Swedish design DNA is our culture, which started with handicrafts. We have good schools and a good education system, and Sweden has long

Photo: Design S/Svensk Form

Sweden shows off its design muscle

The OP-1 portable synthesizer is one of the awarded designs in the Design S exhibition.

A large delegation from Hong Kong visited Sweden earlier this year to prepare for the conference and study for speakers.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Sweden,” says Halldin. “One third of the speakers will come from the partner country, and Sweden will have a central place in all the marketing of this event, which is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors – many of them professional designers – from all around the world.”

Sweden’s participating theme is “Living Design”, with the subtitle “Live it, Wear It, Work it, Do it”.

Anna Blomdahl, project manager at the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design (Svensk Form), is leading the work of putting the

500 sq m exhibition together. “Svensk Form has been asked by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to bring to Hong Kong the Design S exhibition which feature the finalists in the Swedish National Design Award and the Grand Award of Design [Stora Designpriset],” she says.

The Design S exhibition will be joined by nine exhibitors, ranging from multinational companies (Volvo, Scania, Electrolux, IKEA, Ankarsrum) to consultants (Sweco), suppliers (Interbuild) and regional business organisations (Region Skåne, Malmö city). The Region Skåne part will also include several companies from the region. Every exhibitor can bring their own message to the exhibition.

Four Chinese virtues (3)

DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 11

Sweden would never had been able to create such a huge marketing platform in Asia on our own.”

Design is serious business

Jörgen Halldin, Sweden’s consul-general in Hong Kong

Edmund Lee of the Hong Kong Design Centre says that Hong Kong could be inspired by Sweden’s creative mindset as one of the most innovative countries in the world.

The Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) was founded in 2001 by five leading design professional bodies in Hong Kong, with government support. The HKDC aims to promote design as a value-adding activity, raise design standards and foster designrelated education, raising Hong Kong’s profile as an innovation and creative hub.

“Our public mission is to promote wider and strategic use of design, embracing good design, design leadership, design mindset and entrepreneurship,” says Edmund Lee, executive director of the HKDC. “Each year, we organise the Design for Asia Award competition, which gives us a good opportunity to observe design trends in Asia. We also run the Design Incubation Programme, which aims at nurturing entrepreneurs and design start-ups in the InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong. The annual international Business of Design Week (BODW) is our flagship programme to foster knowledge exchange, networking and international partnership,” he says.

Photo: Johan M Persson

The former Police Married Quarters (PMQ) in Soho in Hong Kong is a design hub for creative industries.

US$

published his book The Rise of the Creative Class about how being known as an innovative country.” creativity was emerging as a common element shaping Swedes also spend much more time in their homes America’s economy, geography, communities and jobs. compared to people in warmer countries because in Ten years later, upon the publication of a revised Sweden it’s dark and cold for long stretches of the year. edition of his book, Florida concluded in an interview in Blomdahl adds, “Swedes are good at innovations due the US News and World Report: to our geography but also due to our historical traditions.

“We had three great ages in recent history. The first Beautiful everyday goods has been a slogan for almost a was the modern Agricultural Age, and we made progress 100 years.” in agriculture. Then we shifted from the Agricultural Age She also points out that Sweden has a broader to the Industrial Age, and that created the great economic concept of design than many other countries.

World trade in creative revolution and propelled the United States to dominance.

“We regard everything around us as influenced by goods and services in But now over the past three or four decades, we have design – for example, how a patient experiences healthcare 2011, according to the shifted to the Creative Age. We saw that beginning to from arriving in hospital until leaving it,” she says.

United Nations. happen in 1980.”

Jan Staël von Holstein, a Swedish professor and The United Nations Conference on Trade and branding consultant based in London who has spent Development (UNCTAD) has published a report that notes that part of the past decade in China teaching at Chinese universities, says, creative industries have emerged as a key driver of economic growth “Swedish design is synonymous with our lifestyle. It’s a way of living and that “globalisation and connectivity are benefitting the creative life. It’s practical, democratic, aesthetic, sustainable and also affordable.” industries of developing and developed countries.

“Linking business, culture and technology, the creative economy The creative economy is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of holds potential for developing countries to transform untapped creative the world economy, generating income, creating jobs and export earnings. resources into growth,” UNCTAD said in a press release some years ago.

In 2013, a special edition of the United Nations Creative Economy UNCTAD’s definition of creative industries embraces activities Report showed that the world trade of creative goods and services totalled ranging from traditional folk art, cultural festivities, books, paintings, a record of US$624 billion in 2011, more than doubling since 2001. music and performing arts to more technology-intensive sectors, such as In 2002, Richard Florida, an American professor, author and editor,

624 billion

12 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Why is it called Business of Design Week?

“Our concept is very visionary. We call it Business of Design Week, not just Design Week like so many similar events around the world, because of our overall positioning of Hong Kong as a financial centre and a centre of professional services, which signifies our promotion and recognition of design as serious business.”

You have chosen Nordic countries as partners several times. Why? “When we started, it is natural we worked with innovative economies and the Nordic countries have a history when it comes to innovation and design. The BODW’s concept is to enlighten executives and designers about what is happening around the world. So we always look for the most innovative business models, stunning design and branding projects that can capture people’s minds and enrich our culture of innovation and creativity.”

What is the purpose of having a partner country?

“Each year it gives us one third of the content. The rest comes from previous and future potential partners. The BODW is very

comprehensive. We’re not just creating an exhibition or event but one with rich contents that spans across different design disciplines, branding in Asia, design education, technology for design, culture in the city, and so on. This gives us the opportunity to scan the industry for all areas where good design, a design mindset and design thinking can create value for our city and economy.”

As part of the preparations for this year’s event, you also went to Sweden. What was your impression?

“Sweden is a very clean and sustainable country, where the government and the people recognise the importance of innovation. Many interesting innovations are coming out of Sweden in the areas of industrial products, healthcare and social media. Sweden also has many corporations and brands – household names that are known worldwide – that contribute to the global economy.

“When we talk to the creative minds behind brands such as Volvo and Scania, we find that they don’t just see themselves manufacturing products; they also see themselves as creators of future transportation or mobility solutions.

“We visited Ericsson, which has managed to maintain a very strong position in the highly competitive telecommunications industry. From the people who briefed us there, we understood that innovation for them is a natural state of mind and part of the organisational culture.

“We had the same feeling when we talked with policy makers, brand owners, corporate executives and creative directors and designers. This mindset is really something we would like to bring to the fore in Hong Kong.”

What in your opinion characterises a good and creative design?

“Good design to us is striking a connection with users – design goes beyond aestetics; it’s about emotionally making people sense usability and functionality. It has to be usable, look good and be almost embedded with clean and sustainable concepts, because we are all part of a global village. All good design these days embraces this spirit. But you also need to have the capability to turn big ideas into innovation that is highly cherished by the users.”

When we started, it is natural we worked with innovative economies and the Nordic countries have a history when it comes to innovation and design.”

“This [Swedish] mindset is really something we would like to bring to the fore in Hong Kong,” says Edmund Lee of the Hong Kong Design Centre.

DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 13

Swedish fashion both practical and trend-concious

Mention Swedish fashion and most people start to think of H&M, a retail chain that opened its first store in Sweden in 1947 and now has more than 100,000 employees in over 3,000 stores in 48 countries.

Being such a world-famous brand, H&M has been able to attract worldfamous designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Jimmy Choo, as well as introducing collections by singers such as Beyoncé, Madonna and Kylie Minogue.

But H&M has also become a breeding ground for young designers.

Several of today’s most successful Swedish fashion designers have worked for H&M at some point.

Over the past decade, fashion brands and designers such as Acne, Anna Holtblad, Ann-Sofie Back, Carin Wester, Cheap Monday (today owned by H&M), Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Filippa K, Hope, House of Dagmar, Ida Sjöstedt, J.Lindeberg, Nudie Jeans, Odd Molly, WeSC (WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy), Whyred and others have entered global markets.

Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se

Swedish fashion brands are entering the international catwalk, with H&M leading the way.

Swedish fashion designers often embrace sustainable fashion.

Photo: Sofia Sa bel/im

agebank.swede n.s

1947

Set up in 1979 to promote Swedish fashion in Sweden and abroad, the Swedish Fashion Council analyses trends in fashion and interior design, and is a platform for cooperation in the Swedish fashion and textile trade.

Twice a year, it organises Stockholm Fashion Week, focusing on drawing the attention of the international fashion community – including the media and fashion buyers – to the Swedish fashion scene.

The council is also running the Rookies project, established to support small fashion design companies. The labels selected by the Rookies jury are presented at exhibitions, shows and other events.

several Swedish fashion brands that have expanded internationally.

Swedish design is synonymous with our lifestyle. It’s a way of living life.”

14 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Photo: Gerhard Jörén

Jan Staël von Holstein, professor

design and the audio-visual industry, including film, television and radio. It also includes service-oriented fields, such as architecture, advertising and new media products, such as digital animation and videogames.

Although developed countries in Europe and North America dominate the global market for creative products, exports of creative goods from other parts of the world have increased substantially. For more than a decade, China has been the world’s leading exporter of creative goods. China’s exports not only reflect its ability to create, produce, and trade a mixture of traditional and high-tech creative products, but also the fact that many creative goods produced and exported by China are created or designed in other countries.

UNCTAD also mentions India’s movies and software, Mexico’s TV stations and South Korea’s digital animation products as good examples of success.

e

Besides being trend-conscious, Swedes also have a very practical approach to clothes. When Swedes dress up, they don’t dress up too much. There is not such a difference between how they dress at work, in their time off and at parties.

Sustainability is also a key word in Swedish fashion. An industry organisation, the Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA), has been founded to initiate activities that will accelerate sustainable apparel innovation over the next decade.

Brands such as the shoe company Swedish Hasbeens are producing sustainable collections using traditional methods in small factories, emphasising respect for people and the environment.

One of the pioneers of sustainable fashion is Gudrun Sjödén, who launched her company of the same name in 1976.

Her business idea is to produce colourful home textiles and clothes made from natural materials, using functional models that suit all ages and figures. Environmental thinking plays a role in all its The year when H&M opened its collections. first store – in Västerås, Sweden.

The oldest Swedish fashion brand is probably Tiger of Sweden, which was founded as early as 1903. It marketed something completely new – mass-produced suits – and met with success. After some ups and downs, the company redefined its profile in the late 1990s. The idea was to take suits out of corporate offices and onto the streets. In 1997, Tiger released its first women’s collection, followed in 2000 by the launch of Tiger Nudie Jeans is one of Jeans. Today, the brand has a Danish owner.

The Hong Kong government has identified creative industries as one of the city’s most important economic drivers.

In 2001, the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) was established as a strategic partner of the government for promoting Hong Kong as an international design hub in Asia. Its annual highlight is organising Business of Design Week (see separate article).

In 2009, a HK$300 million CreateSmart Initiative (CSI) was established to provide financial support to projects with objectives that are in line with the strategic aim of driving the creative industries.

Hong Kong is also developing a number of cultural initiatives, such as the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is a major infrastructure project to boost cultural development in Hong Kong.

The former Police Married Quarters (PMQ) in Soho is already a design hub for creative industries. The former Central Police Station together with the former Victoria Prison will become an arts hub when the projects are completed next year. Together with the old Central wet market, which will be a platform for exhibitions, they will all form what is to be called The Cultural Triangle in Hong Kong.

But how will Sweden know whether being a partner country in the Business of Design Week will be a long-term success in terms of national branding in the region?

Sources: sweden.se, VisitSweden.

“Sweden has a target of 30 companies actively participating in the event, and that 70 per cent of them will get new business contacts in the region,” says Halldin. “We also hope that at least five new educational cooperation agreements will be conducted between Sweden and Hong Kong.”

Halldin adds, “Sweden would never have been able to create such a huge marketing platform in Asia on its own”.

Staël von Holstein agrees.

Our Swedish design DNA is our culture, which started with handicrafts.”

Anna Blomdahl, Swedish Society of Crafts and Design

DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 15

Entrepreneurial spirit By making its hanger hooks and clips superior to its competitors, Petterssons Trading have managed to seize half the global market.

Creativity and good design is not only a primary characteristic of Swedish fashion and furniture, but is also a cornerstone for many Swedish industrial companies. Take Petterssons Trading Sweden, for example. It is a world leader, with a global market share of 40-50 per cent of the two products it develops and produces – hanger hooks and clips for garments.

“What makes us different from all our competitors is that we have developed products with a higher corrosion resistance than anyone else,” says Hans Ireståhl, CEO and co-owner with a Dutch partner.

Hans Ireståhl, CEO of Petterssons, says that the company will now expand to India.

Petterssons, which was founded in 1921, is located in the Gnosjö region’s Hillerstorp in the province of Småland, a region which is renowned for its high number of small industries, enter-

Petterssons has about half of the market share of hanger hooks.

prises and high employment rate. An entrepreneurial hotbed, it is known for its “Gnosjö Spirit”.

“Petterssons grew quickly, first in the 1980s, when the hanger became a part of entire logistics chain, from where a garment is produced to where it is sold to the consumer.

Then, in the late 1990s, we had our big expansion, when the leading hanger manufacturers followed their customers to Asia,” says Ireståhl.

Petterssons opened a representative office in Hong Kong in 2000 and set up two factories in Shenzhen in 2005 and 2006. A factory in Chennai in India is on its way and will open next year.

“We deliver our products to places where the clothes are manufactured. From our Swedish factory, we support Europe, America and Africa, from our Chinese factory, we supply all countries east of Malaysia, and from the Indian plant we’ll deliver to Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan,” says Ireståhl.

“Our philosophy is to strive for exclusive contracts with the big retailers that buy hangers from our customers. For example, we deliver the hooks to all the hangers that H&M uses,” he says.

Petterssons is also in the forefront when it comes to sustainability. About five years ago, the big retailers demanded that manufacturers should reuse and recycle their hangers. Knowing that the company’s strength over the years has been to see where the market is heading, Petterssons now both reuse and recycle their hooks and most of them can be used for about seven “loops” from Asia to Europe and back again.

“Asians recognise IKEA and H&M, but they don’t know about the depth of Swedish design. The partnership is a great opportunity for Sweden to show its strength.”

Staël von Holstein has been lecturing about design and brand management at universities in Shanghai and Beijing for a decade.

He has observed that Swedish design has got much more attention over the past couple of years.

“Sweden has participated in plenty of seminars and exhibitions at Chinese universities as well as in a big number of fashion shows. When I first came to China 10 years ago, there were around 20 fashion shows per year in the whole country; now it’s about 400. There were about 300 design schools a decade ago; now there are 1,500,” he says.

16 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

“However, a problem in China is that they don’t really have any indigenous contemporary design yet. Look at furniture design, for example. Chinese either tend to use inherited furniture from parents or buy copies of European furniture, but they seldom have any of their own ideas about how to decorate a home. In this field, IKEA plays a big role, with its smart and functional interior-design solutions,” says Staël von Holstein.

“But if 500 designers from every one of the 1,500 design schools graduate each year, we will definitely see a number of influential Chinese designers,” he adds. “It will be interesting to see how they can combine modern design with their long cultural traditions.” b

A world leader in gaming Are you addicted to Candy Crush on your phone or tablet? Blame the Swedes – they are producing one game after another.

Some of the world’s most popular and innovative mass-market breakthrough came in 2002 when they introduced the Battlefield games played on mobile phones and tablets, computers and series for both computers and consoles such as PlayStation and video game consoles are developed in Sweden.

XBox. In 2006, US game developer Electronic Arts acquired DICE. Take Candy Crush Saga, for example. King Digital EntertainIn 2009, Markus Persson founded a game studio in Stockment, a company founded in Sweden in 2003, holm called Mojang. It became famous after launched the addictive game in 2011. Candy launching Minecraft, which allows players Crush quickly became extremely popular, to construct objects from textured cubes in hitting the No 1 game spot on Facebook in a 3D-generated world. Recently, Microsoft January 2013. purchased Mojang at the astonishing price of In March 2014, King completed its initial US$2.5 billion. public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock In 1997, Massive Entertainment launched Exchange. The IPO valued the company at in Malmö, Sweden, 10 years later releasing a more than US$7 billion. King is now headgame called World in Conflict, which is about quartered in London and led by an Italian, the Cold War. French game-developer Ubisoft Riccardo Zaccone, one of the seven founders acquired the company in 2008, and in 2013 it The Swedish gaming industry’s of the company. All of them have their roots released a popular role-playing game called turnover in 2012. in a much-hyped Swedish Internet company Tom Clancy’s The Division. called Spray during the dot-com boom.

EA Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment (DICE) was Sweden’s gaming industry has grown fast, and turnover in 2012 founded in 1992 by five students at Växjö University in Sweden. was SEK3,700 million according to the Game Developer Index 2012.

They developed some popular games for computers, but their One reason for so much development is that Swedes were

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Candy Crush Saga, created by Swedes, is the most popular game on Facebook.

early adopters of home computers. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Swedish government provided subsidies for its citizens to lease computers from their employers to use at home.

Broad internet access has also long been high on the government’s agenda. As of October 2013, 99 per cent of all households and companies in Sweden had access to broadband via 4G, according to a broadband survey by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS).

Sweden’s success also has to do with its focus on education and innovation. Sweden was an earlier pioneer in including gaming as part of university curricula, with the first programme starting at Gotland University in 2001. This has made gaming studies, research facilities and institutes both accessible and acceptable. One of the recruiting grounds for Swedish gaming companies is the computer game development programmes offered at Swedish universities. At the University of Skövde alone, around 500 students are waiting to put their skills to use.

The fact that Swedish games companies are grounded in solid technical expertise gives them a competitive edge, according to Staffan Björk, senior gameplay researcher at the Interactive Institute Swedish ICT in Gothenburg and associate professor at the University of Gothenburg.

“There is a correlation between Sweden’s success in game development and its research community. Scandinavia as a whole is a huge centre for gaming research, so we have a very high density of game developers compared with other countries,” Björk told the website sweden.se.

Another face of Swedish gaming success can be found on YouTube. Felix Kjellberg, better known as Pewdiepie, is a Swedish video game commentator. Specialising in the horror and action video game genres, his YouTube channel became the most subscribed channel in August 2013. By March 2014, the number of his subscribers had passed 24 million. b

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Helping people fulfill their dreams

If you’ve lived once in Hong Kong, it’s easy to have an urge to come back.”

Text: Jan Hökerberg, Bamboo, jan.hokerberg@bambooinasia.com

After graduating, Thomas Ekberg went to Hong Kong for his first job. Now he is back, in big business, responsible for cosmetics group Oriflame’s operations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

If

not for coincidence, 43-year old Thomas Ekberg would probably not have spent most of his grown-up life in Asia working for companies such as H&M, Åhléns and, for the past 15 years, Oriflame Cosmetics. Since January this year, he is as senior vice president heading the group’s global business area for the strategic growth regions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

He has chosen to locate himself in Hong Kong, where 21 years ago he started his work career.

In the early 1990s, Ekberg saw a note by a chance about a student exchange programme in Hong Kong on a bulletin board at Stockholm University. He applied, was selected and spent a term in Hong Kong, where he also wrote his thesis. Both he and a friend wanted to stay, so they opened the Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s directory and picked three companies each to contact.

One of the companies that Ekberg picked was H&M and his application was accepted.

22 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Thomas Ekberg leads an event for top performing sales consultants at a resort hotel on the Chinese island of Hainan for more than 900 people in February 2014.

[In China} 100 per cent of all orders are placed online.”

It meant that immediately after graduating in business administration in Stockholm in 1993, Ekberg was able to return to Hong Kong and start work sourcing accessories in China for H&M. “It was an exciting time and I stayed for three-and-a-half years. Then I had a short stint at Optima Batteries selling their starter batteries in Asia, after which I was appointed managing director at the Swedish retail chain Åhléns’ sourcing office in Hong Kong,” says Ekberg.

After two years with Åhléns, another coincidence led him to Oriflame. He had met the Swedish journalist Agneta Engqvist a couple of times and she tipped him off

about a job advertisement she had seen in a newsletter. He got the job – managing director of Oriflame’s entity in Indonesia, which had opened in 1986.

Oriflame, which was founded in Sweden in 1967 by two brothers – Jonas and Robert af Jochnick – and their friend Bengt Hellsten, produces cosmetics and relies on independent sales consultants to sell their products. Last year, the group’s turnover was EUR1,380 million (close to CNY11 billion).

The company was ahead of its time when it was founded, souring the ingredients for its products from nature, and doing so 10 years before Body Shop was founded.

“I’d never worked with cosmetics, but

3

head of Asia and stationed in I’d done some part-time direct Bangkok. In 2010, he became selling for an American water responsible for Europe, Middle filter company while I was in East and Africa and worked Hong Kong,” says Ekberg. from the company’s regional When he came to Indonesia office in Warsaw, Poland. in 2000, it was soon after Russia is the company’s the Asian financial crisis had The number of biggest market, but the played havoc with the country’s independent sales current Ukraine crisis has, of economy. “At many places in consultants that course, negatively affected the Jakarta, I could see the destruction Oriflame has worldwide. business and also weakened from the riots,” he says.

In Asia, Middle East and the ruble. “It hurts me to see At that time, Indonesia Africa, the number is our consultants suffer from only had 5,000 Oriflame about 1 million. weakened economy due to the consultants, but today it has political crisis,” says Ekberg.

350,000 and is together with China and India the key strategic growth markets for Oriflame.

He describes Oriflame as a company that offers two main products: beauty products After another three-and-a-half years in and the possibility to earn an income. The Indonesia, he was in charge of the Indian group has 3 million active consultants and market for two years before he was appointed

million

7,500 employees – with 1 million consultants and 2,000 employees in Asia, Middle East and Africa – selling its beauty products in 62 countries worldwide. Around 95 per cent of the consultants are women who build networks and arrange parties for selling the cosmetic and wellness products. The consultants earn around 30 per cent on the sales price, and when they invite others to join, they earn money from their sales.

Oriflame arranges regular seminars and socalled incentive trips for the top-performing consultants. When Dragon News met Ekberg in September, he was preparing for such an event for 1,700 participants who will fly to Barcelona for an eight-day cruise trip and visit different ports in Spain, France and Italy.

“Our business opportunity is described as ‘Make money today and fulfil your dreams tomorrow’. It means a lot to our consultants when they have made a small extra income as it can make a real difference in their daily life, and of course even more so when they earn enough money to buy their first car, flat or can bring their mother on a trip abroad for the first time,” says Ekberg.

The reason why he chose to base himself in Hong Kong was simply to be able to focus on the strategically important Chinese market and that the city has excellent communications.

China is becoming an increasingly important market for Oriflame. The company got its first license in 2006 and it now has offices in 20 cities. It has built two factories – in Kunshan, close to Shanghai, and in Beijing.

China differs from other countries because it is such an advanced country when it comes to e-commerce. “One hundred per cent of all orders are placed online and 80 per cent of all our service support questions are handled through WeChat,” says Ekberg.

In China, skincare is Oriflame’s strongest product category, followed by wellness. In Russia, the biggest market, and in Indonesia, make-up products are the best-selling products.

Ekberg has established himself with his wife Anna and their two sons, Alexander, 13, and Sebastian, 10, in Repulse Bay on the Hong Kong Island. After work, he likes to play tennis or run even in the hot and humid climate.

“If you’ve lived once in Hong Kong, it’s easy to have an urge to come back,” he says.

Ekberg was living in Hong Kong during the handover, but he says he cannot see any big differences since China took over. “It feels like the expatriate community has grown much more and that Hong Kong has become more service-minded than before. I can also feel that the entrepreneurial spirit is still here, and that’s for me what Hong Kong is all about.” b DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 23

Fighting with celebrities

Joel Adrian has made a career in China as an actor and stuntman in action movies starring some of his childhood idols, such as Jackie Chan.

Text: Alexander de Freitas, alexander.de.freitas@mpsglobe.cn

Joel Adrian has won a Swedish championship in wushu.

J

oel Adrian Slaatto, or simply Joel Adrian, as he is known as an actor, is something of a unique Swedish case – an up-and-coming action-movie performer and stuntman in China’s movie industry.

Even if his roles have been small so far, he is playing roles in some of the biggest Chinese productions ever alongside such renowned actors as Adrien Brody, John Cusack (Dragon Blade, for release in 2015), Nicolas Cage (Outcast, 2014) and Chinese legend Jackie Chan (Dragon Blade and Skiptrace, 2016).

Adrian grew up in Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast, where he – and many young men like him at the time – was introduced to China through kung fu movies, popularised in the West through stars such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li. At that time, he had no idea that just a few years later he would be trading blows on the big screen with his idols. But Adrian’s interest in kung fu – or gongfu, as it is known in China – was deeper than most of his fellows. At 13, he started to train in wushu – the traditional Chinese martial arts – and at 16 he made his first trip to China, spending three weeks practicing at Shaolin Monastery in Henan Province.

In 2009, Adrian moved to Shanghai to continue in his martial arts studies and also to learn Chinese

If you hurt the movie star it could really impact the shoot.”

24 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

at Fudan University. After one year, he was awarded a scholarship to complete a Chinese BA in broadcasting and journalism at Fudan.

In Shanghai, he continued training in wushu, and met someone who belonged to a small circle of stuntmen who were working with Jackie Chan. Adrian was encouraged to try out for some small parts, and his first role was as an extra in the martial arts action movie Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster.

Other roles followed, and today, Adrian’s new career appears to be on the up and up. Meanwhile, he is continuing his martial arts training, winning a Swedish championship in wushu (staff combat), as well as two university championship gold medals (staff and sword) in Shanghai.

Dragon News talked to Adrian before he set off to the location on the next movie production he will be part of.

“A lot of people want to get into the business, but it’s hard work and you need to have a very clear focus, or you won’t be able to make it,” he says.

“A lot of guys have this attitude where they’re just certain they’ll get the role, especially if they’ve been in a lot of movies before,” says Adrian. “They get too confident and don’t even bother to prepare for the casting. Swedes are more down to earth and like to show our abilities through hard work. For Skiptrace I trained for two weeks with a friend just to be able to show some combat to the casting agents. In the end I looked better than guys with mixed martial arts and boxing experience, and I got the role.”

But landing a movie role is about more than martial arts skills.

“You have to learn how to fight with a celebrity,” says Adrian.

“It should look tough and real, but you’re not allowed to touch him.

A real fighter can’t do this. If you hurt the movie star, it could really impact the shoot. A movie is an illusion. It’s fake, but you have to make the audience believe that it’s real. The smallest mistake can break that illusion.”

Adrian enjoys working with his childhood idols, even if, occasionally, he has an attack of nerves.

“The first time I came onto the set and met Jackie Chan, he was walking towards me, and he could see that I was a bit star-struck and nervous, but he approached me and said ‘Welcome to the set,’” says Adrian.

“Jackie Chan is great,” he adds. “He isn’t sitting in his trailer like other celebrities, but is always running around the set to make sure everything is in order for the shoot, down to the smallest details. He’s talking to all the actors, big and small. During a shoot [Dragon Age], I broke my foot and had to have it in a cast for two weeks. When I came back to the set Jackie came to make sure everything was OK … even changing some scenes to make it easier for me.

For Adrian, Chan’s act was a mark of respect – and encouragement.

Joel Adrian Slaatto in brief Age: 25.

Occupation: Action actor and stuntman, full-time student in broadcasting and journalism at Fudan University.

Lives: Shanghai.

Time in Shanghai: Five years.

Best thing about Shanghai: “A Chinese city but with many western influences and culture.”

Worst thing about Shanghai: “Traffic, air pollution, noise pollution.”

26 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Back in 1996, when mobile phones were the size of bricks; before tablets, before 3G, before Google even, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates wrote an article in which he foresaw the importance of content on the Internet.

“Content is where I expect much of the real money will be made on the Internet, just as it was in broadcasting … Those who succeed will propel the Internet forward as a marketplace of ideas, experiences, and products – a marketplace of content,” he wrote.

The American-Chinese action film Outcast, in which Joel Adrian (right) has a role as a crusader, is due for release in October this year.

In one movie I play a Russian gangster and in the next I have to learn to cry in front of the camera.”

He adds, “Each project is something new, and after a project is finished you get a real sense of accomplishment. Then the next project starts and it’s something completely different. In one movie I play a Russian gangster and in the next I have to learn to cry in front of the camera. Each project has new challenges.”

Sharing some tips for anyone who wants to pursue an acting career in China, Adrian says, “In China, you have additional opportunities to get into acting, especially if you can speak Chinese. You can get the chance to start with some smaller TV shows and then work your way up. The most important thing is to really have the interest and act professionally. If you’re good, things can go great, but there’s no security – you can go three months without any work. I don’t believe that you have to be a born actor – anyone can learn. It’s tough work with 14-hour days during shooting, but if you can handle it, it’s great.”

Meanwhile, Adrian is cautiously optimistic about the future.

“When you land a role in a bigger movie, you get to know people who can introduce you to more work, and right now things are quite good. I’d like to get things moving properly before finishing up my studies. I’d need three or four bigger projects a year, or six to eight smaller ones in order to be able to make a living in the industry. If it doesn’t work out, I can see myself working behind the camera – in film, or in media and advertising.”

Outcast is slated to premiere in October this year, with Dragon Blade premiering on 17 February 2015. Skiptrace is slated for a 2016 release. b For a glimpse of Joel Adrian performing, go to: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNjU2ODg1MDg4.html

Bill Gates was right. Today, 17 years later, content marketing has become the art of communicating with customers and prospects without the hard sell. If you, as a company, can deliver consistent, ongoing, valuable content to buyers, ultimately they will reward you with their business and loyalty.

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The entrepreneur

An innovator and a conscious capitalist

I’m a person who creates things. If I want to do something, I do it.”

Bonnie Roupé has launched a website in China, helping pregnant women and parents with small children to easier understand complicated medical terms.

could attract advertisers and make such an e-commerce business website profitable.”

The website, or portal, is called Bonzun (www.bonzun. com), and her company Bonzun Health Information – after just four years – is already receiving support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations’ Children’s Rights & Emergency Relief Organisation (Unicef ), as well as from many leading Chinese hospitals and the Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association, with 3,700 clinics China-wide.

“The hospitals and the doctors are our ambassadors.

We have also created an app, which is being used to register patient information at leading hospitals. China is digitalising its healthcare system and we are already part of it,” she says.

While many organisations are supporting Bonzun – mainly through providing knowledge and disseminating information – Roupé has also attracted a number of serial entrepreneurs, most of them Swedish, which are backing Bonzun financially. She decided to enter the Chinese market without a mainland partner.

“I would probably have got the license quicker with a local partner, but it is more fun to do it yourself,” she says.

Text: Jan Hökerberg, Bamboo, jan.hokerberg@bambooinasia.com

I would probably have got the license quicker with a local partner but it is more fun to do it yourself.” playing golf, so I founded one,” she says.

She ran the magazine from 2004 to 2009, describing the experience as an “extremely fun time”. She sold it to the Swedish Golf Association, which has now sold it to another owner.

At the time her second daughter, Charlie, was due to be born in 2010, Roupé was diagnosed with toxaemia of pregnancy, an abnormal condition that is fatal in many parts of the world. She After graduating as an economist, Roupé worked was lucky to get emergency treatment and at an IT firm in Stockholm and, among both mother and daughter other things, acted as a strategy consultant were able to leave the for Ericsson in the late 1990s – until the hospital without any IT bubble burst. She was married at the complications. time, but the marriage crashed as well, so Today, Charlie, Roupé decided she would do something who is four years totally different. old, and her older “I had my mid-life crisis as a 25-yearsister Jackie, who is The annual number of old, and I decided to sail across the Atlantic six, are living with their pregnant women in China. from Greenland to Virginia in a 14.3-metre mother in Shanghai’s sail boat with seven other people that I didn’t Jing’an District, where know. That trip was extremely influential in terms of both a Jackie attends school and Charlie goes to personal and a career point of view. You learn to know who kindergarten. Their father lives in Sweden. you are and what you can do,” she says.

“Those days in hospital got me thinking “I’m a person who creates things. If I want to do about creating a website for pregnant women something, I do it,” she adds. that provides medical information that is easy to After her sailing adventure, the first thing Roupé did understand,” says Roupé. was to start up a golf magazine for women called Red Tee. “I was thinking of China as a start for many “I’d done a stint at a design agency and had learnt reasons. It’s a country where there are around 20 million about both golf and magazines. I’d received a green card pregnant women annually and many of them suffer [certification] in golf and had found out that there wasn’t during pregnancy and while giving birth. At the same time, a magazine for the growing number of women who were there are hundreds of millions of wealthy Chinese, which

20

million

28 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Bonnie Roupé on …

Photo: Marie -Therese Karlberg/Shay

In

her Twitter account, Bonnie Roupé describes herself as “innovator, serial entrepreneur and a believer in conscious capitalism”.

With experiences as various as being part of the bursting of the dot.com bubble in the early 2000s, sailing across the Atlantic, launching a golf magazine for women and introducing an advisory website for Chinese pregnant women, she definitely qualifies to be called a true entrepreneur.

Born in 1976, Roupé grew up in Stockholm, but at the tender age of 15 she had already moved out of her family home to start a life of her own. While studying, she undertook several jobs at the same time – telephone sales, selling meat at a supermarket, nail sculptor, and horse care – to support herself and pay the rent for her flat.

“At the time, it was quite a natural step for me. I’d grown up with my mother, who was alone with three children, while also studying for a law degree. I had to learn to undertake responsibilities at a young age,” she says.

… learning Chinese: “It’s a must, you can’t live in China without knowing the language.” … her inspiration: “I’m a great believer in conscious capitalism. My role model is the late Anita Roddick, founder of Body Shop, since she started and developed her cosmetics chain from the perspective that it should not be only ethical and environmental, but also profitable.” … taking risks: “I don’t regard myself as a risk-taker. I never do anything without analysing risks that could be involved.”

At present, just three people in China work full time with Bonzun since it is still in the start-up phase, but the company has a large editorial board that includes doctors, researchers and medical editors, as well as technical developers. They hail from various countries, such as Sweden, China, Nepal and the Philippines.

“All of our information is evidence-based and written by specialists – we never speculate,” says Roupé, who adds that the aim is to provide the information to an ever-broader group of people.

She hopes to create China’s leading website for pregnant women and parents with small children, and her target is that her portal shall have 30 million visitors a week within five years, creating a profitable e-commerce business.

Besides describing pregnancy symptoms, Roupé’s plan is to expand the web portal to provide advice on preconception issues and child care, as well as raising the educational quality of nurses.

Roupé has received several awards, including being listed as one of Sweden’s super-talents under 40 years old by leading Swedish business magazine Veckans Affärer.

“That has meant a lot to me in China, where people do research on me before they meet me for the first time. But the award I am most proud of is the Innovation Against Poverty grant I received from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). It felt like an acknowledgement that I am on the right track.” b DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 29

Hong Kong

The lucky Mamma Mia winners, from left: Pernilla Halldin (H&M), Thomas Bergström (TK Mold) and Johan Andrén (Handelsbanken).

Crayfish Party 2014 Photo: Tommy Hallberg

n The traditional SwedCham’s Crayfish Party attracted 210 hungry guests around the pool at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Many thanks to our generous sponsors: Finnair, Asian Tigers and SEB. Of course, thanks also go out to our fantastic guests who feasted on 214 kg of crayfish during the night and made this year’s party one to remember.

We also would like to say thanks to Peter Fransson of Saison Food Service, which delivered the very tasty crayfish, and our DJ, Dale James, who helped create a great atmosphere. Meanwhile, our MC, Jimmy Bjennmyr from Handelsbanken, did an excellent job of putting all attendees in a singing mood during the night.

Congratulations to the winners of the Mamma Mia tickets, and thanks to the participants in the contest, who all looked great. See you next year!

30 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Beijing Thank you for the Party! n The 2014 Crayfish Party in Beijing was the party of the year. Held on a perfectly warm Saturday evening after a day of blue skies, nearly 200 guests gathered in the Royal Garden at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Beijing. Before the guests could dive into an ocean of crayfish sponsored by ICA, and an extensive buffet, as usual, the party kicked off with snaps songs sung by the charming duo, Erik Linder and Johan Randén, flown in from Sweden by SAS. We were honoured to have Lars Olofsson take on the role of MC, and he did a fantastic job of engaging with the guests and the entertainers throughout the dinner.

As the evening progressed, arms linked, tables began rocking and the dance floor filled up. Hands and tables got very messy from all the crayfish – and from the snaps as well – but SCA was ready for that by providing wet wipes. Erik and Johan gave a fantastic performance throughout the evening and by the time they were done, the dance floor was begging for more, which they got three times, before “Michelangelo” drew a rocking masterpiece of a performance to an end. But the evening had just begun, with a DJ taking over and continuing to rock the garden late into the night.

Unfortunately, SCA and Vinge could not be present in person, but Business Sweden and SAS were not shy about participating in a Dragon Partner Challenge, which involved various activities and entertaining performances on stage, such as building a six-person human pyramid and taking on the ice bucket challenge three times. A big thank you goes out to our Dragon Partners: Business Sweden, SAS, SCA and Vinge, because without you none of this would have been possible.

Experience leads to excellence Vinge opened its office in Hong Kong as early as 1985. In 1999, Vinge became the first Swedish and Scandinavian law firm to obtain a licence to open an office in China, located in Shanghai. Vinge has led the way and assisted clients in Sweden-China related trade and investment matters for more than 20 years. Practice makes perfect.

STOCKHOLM

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GOTHENBURG

MALMO

HELSINGBORG

BRUSSELS

HONG KONG

SHANGHAI

Shanghai

Personal We offer personal logistics; simplicity, precision and reliability for our customers, and that means personal attention and service, because business relationships are about people.

www.apclogistics.com The Chinese economy is at the crossroads between old and new growth models, according to Nordea’s Steen V Gröndahl, Amy Yuan Zhuang and Michael Thurow.

Chasing the Chinese Dream n On 13 May, Nordea’s Amy Yuan Zhuang, senior Asian analyst, and Steen V Gröndahl, head of global research, held an interesting presentation at a Swedish chamber business breakfast in Shanghai.

The rebalancing of the world economy is affecting different geographical areas and sectors, and is also setting China on a new growth model. The Chinese economy is at a crossroad between old and new growth models. The speakers highlighted three challenges that China faces as it moves into the next stage: • Restructuring of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to preserve competitiveness and reduce credit risk.

• Social reforms to promote consumption.

• Geopolitical tensions with Japan and other Southeast Asian countries.

Reaching the new connected consumer

Crayfish Party in Shanghai n It seemed as if the high spirits of the 230 happy guests at the Crayfish Party chased away the imposing rainclouds that had been circling Shanghai for several days before the event on Saturday 20 September.

With Lars Olofsson as host, and the entertainment duo, Erik Linder and Johan Randén, getting the crowd on its feet, everyone agreed that they had a truly enjoyable evening at the Paulaner Brauhaus in Pudong, which served as host venue for the Swedish chamber annual Crayfish Party.

34 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

n On June 5, Alice Hu, social and digital manager of the MSL Group Asia, held a much-appreciated presentation on connected consumers.

We have entered an age of social networks in which people are mobile first. WeChat, Line and KakaoTalk are some of the fastest-growing mobile social platforms, replacing many of the applications we use daily with one that houses everything. These platforms are where people go to pay bills, catch-up with friends, create multimedia content, buy things, and much more. Over 40 per cent of the world’s internet users live in Asia.

Alice Hu talks about the age of mobile social platforms.

Taipei

Photo: Google

Sweden Day approaches

Sweden Day on 12 November, 2014, will be held in the beautiful old brick house in Huashan Creative Park, Taipei.

n Sweden Day on 12 November, 2014, will be held in the beautiful old brick house in Huashan Creative Park, Taipei.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei, in collaboration with Business Sweden in Taipei, is arranging a promotion event for Swedish businesses. The event will coincide with the visit by a Swedish state secretary, who will be arriving in Taipei with a business delegation.

The main purpose of the event is to present Swedish products, innovations and services, with a view to highlighting their high quality, sustainability and modern technology.

Ten Swedish member companies will display their products in the form of a presentation that offers business opportunities, and an exchange of experience and discussions with other participants.

Advice for dealing with disputes n On 1 September the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei, together with the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, jointly hosted an event with guest speakers Annette Magnusson, secretary-general of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce’s (SCC’s) Arbitration Institute and Nils Eliasson, partner and head of Dispute Resolution Asia, Mannheimer Swartling, Hong Kong. In their presentations, the speakers focused on pro-active dispute management and dispute avoidance.

The SCC’s Arbitration Institute deals with about 200 cases per year involving about 35 countries. Besides Swedish and other European parties, many cases involve parties from Russia and China. While the secretariat is in Stockholm, the board is very international, with representatives from many countries.

The Arbitration Institute has made its service user-friendly for an international clientele by providing translations of substantial portions of Swedish law in English, Chinese and Russian, as well as offering free English translations of Swedish court decisions on arbitration issues on its website.

Because disputes take time, cost money 36 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

At the same time, the chamber will be present to inform everybody about the activities, such as lectures, seminars and guest events.

The chamber is working to support the Sweden brand and the image of Sweden abroad, as well as to contribute to increase business between our countries.

This will be an excellent occasion to meet people working with Swedish products and a good opportunity to exchange views about the business environment.

During the event a buffet dinner will be served, including Swedish food and drinks.

This is an invitation-only event, so if you would like to attend please send an email to: louise@swedchamtw.org and visit our web page, www.swedchamtw.org, for more information.

and are a significant drain on resources, it is best to try to avoid them in the first place through proactive risk management during contract negotiations. Having good, standard template contracts, negotiation manuals and check-lists in place that are designed for your specific business should be a priority. Parties also often fail to fully understand the motivations and commercial objectives of their business partners and make sure that the contracts reflect these commercial objectives.

There is no “one size fits all” solution to resolving disputes. Parties should consider a number of factors before opting for arbitration, litigation or mediation – in particular the potential costs and drain on resources. They should also consider the impact on business.

Speakers concluded that disputes are an inevitable part of international business. But dealing with them efficiently can save time and money. Parties should develop clear strategies, focus on the right issues and work on a settlement strategy in parallel with dispute preparation. Strategies need to be realistic.

From left: Freddie Höglund, European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan; Nils Eliasson, Mannheimer Swartling Hong Kong; Annette Magnusson, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce; and Louise Byström, Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei.

You can breathe easier and so can she.

¨

www.beaconmedaes.com

Part of the Atlas Copco Group

Spotlight on the board: Tax agreement signed between Sweden and Hong Kong

Photo: Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se

n On 22 August 2014, Sweden and Hong Kong signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement. The agreement will enter into force once it is ratified by the Swedish parliament. The agreement empowers the Swedish tax authority to request tax-related information for Swedish individuals and companies based in Hong Kong.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has previously informed the members about this development. The board of directors’ view is that under the circumstances, a Comprehensive Double Taxation Agreement would be much more beneficial for developing trade and clarify the tax situation for individuals and companies. For several years, the board has lobbied this view and will continue doing so to relevant authorities.

You can find more information at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/ Agreement_Sweden_HongKong.pdf The chamber will continue to arrange activities around this topic during the autumn. The first will be a Tax Seminar with Fredrik Lager of SEB Private Banking on 21 October, 2014.

Coastal Watch beach clean-up n SwedCham in Hong Kong has been selected as one of the partner organisations to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF’s) Coastal Watch programme, which kicked off in June with support from the Hong Kong government. Under the programme, SwedCham has been awarded Big Wave Bay near Shek O, as its adopted beach.

Starting on 16 November 2014, the chamber will organise outings at the beach twice a year. These outings aim not only to clean up the beach, but will also contain a scientific component that aims to explore where the waste is coming from and what can be done to clean up Hong Kong’s coastline. To this end, a team of scientists will accompany SwedCham on all outings. Says Kristian Odebjer of SwedCham’s Environmental Committee, “The Coastal Watch programme builds on the work we have done on beaches around Hong Kong for several years now. By partnering with the WWF and bringing in the scientific angle, we will be able to accomplish even more.”

Marketing of a chamber

The governments of Sweden and the HKSAR have reached a tax agreement.

38 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

n In April 2014, SwedCham Hong Kong decided, with support from the board, to set up a marketing committee. A need for more clarity on messages and direction for the chamber was identified and Walter Jennings, managing partner of Kreab Gavin Anderson, volunteered to lead the new committee.

To kick-start the new committee’s work, Kreab Gavin Anderson invited the marketing committee to a brainstorming session being on message and communication channels Walter Jennings is heading that would further strengthen SwedCham’s the chamber’s marketing profile and create more engagement for the committee. organisation and its activities.

Fifteen people participated in the first session to discuss, among other things, where SwedCham is today, where we want SwedCham to be in the future, barriers to success, stepping stones – that is the actions and ideas that will take SwedCham to the next level, key audiences and competitors.

When key messages are agreed upon, they will serve as the basis for a better-grounded communications plan for SwedCham, which the marketing committee will present to the board in due course.

Creative Swedes in HK

Mostafa Sharq

Malin Teeling

Welcome Mostafa and Malin! n The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China would like to greet our newest additions to the chamber offices, Mostafa Sharq and Malin Teeling.

Mostafa is the chamber’s new Anders Wall Scholar in Shanghai and will stay with us until June next year. He holds a degree in economics from Gothenburg University and has been studying political science at Lund University. He has also studied Chinese at Fudan University in Shanghai and did his exchange semester in Suzhou.

Malin will be at the Beijing office for six months, before completing her Master of International Business from Grenoble Graduate School of Business. Malin holds a Bachelor of Business Management from Leeds Metropolitan and has now studied her first year of two at Beihang University in Beijing.

Besides the daily activities of the chamber, Mostafa will act as chairman of the Young Professionals board in Shanghai and Malin is marketing manager and member of the Young Professionals’ board in Beijing.

We look forward to working together with Malin and Mostafa in Shanghai and Beijing.

n Creative Swedes in Hong Kong is an initiative by SwedCham HK to gather Swedish creative entrepreneurs under one umbrella and showcase of what Swedish style and creativity can accomplish in the dynamic setting of Hong Kong.

This long-term initiative aims to increase awareness of Swedish designers active in HK, enable new exciting meetings and create new opportunities for everybody involved.

Sweden is the partner country for this year’s Business of Design Week (BODW) in Hong Kong. In the run-up to the event, Creative Swedes in Hong Kong will host a series of build-up events to create awareness, consisting of studio visits, lectures and informal design talks, including a pop-up store at the PMQ for one month. (see also page 8) If you are interested in joining, please contact Louise Herrlin at the SwedCham office: louise.herrlin@swedcham.com.hk

Swedish banking in China We feel at home in the Chinese market and want you to feel the same. It’s a large and fastgrowing market. As a result, more and more Scandinavian companies need banking solutions, such as cash management, financing in local and foreign currencies, trade finance and treasury solutions in China.

We’ll help you – bringing our 20 years of experience of business in China. If you have the opportunity, please visit us in Shanghai where we’ve been located since 2001.

Swedbank Shanghai Citigroup Tower 601, 33 Huayuanshiqiao Rd. Shanghai, China + 86 21 386 126 00 Louise Herrlin

Edvard Månsson

Welcome Louise and Edward!

Congratulations!

n A warm welcome to Louise Herrlin, SwedCham HK’s new events and marketing manager, and Edvard Månsson, the Greencarrier graduate Intern. We look forward to working with both of you.

Louise has lived in Hong Kong since June 2013. She has a background in supply-chain management and has a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lund University.

Edvard has just completed his master’s program in Media Management at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and, thanks to Greencarrier, Edvard will now spend 10 months with us here in Hong Kong.

At the same time we wish Emma Cosmo, our former marketing manager, all the best in her future career in Sweden.

n SwedCham Hong Kong congratulates Choi Kan-suen, who received the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong’s scholarship for studies in the master’s programme, Sustainable Development, between 2014 to 2016 at Uppsala University in Sweden.

40 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Choi Kan-suen together with Eva Åkesson, vice chancellor, Uppsala University.

HONG KONG ORDINARY MEMBER >>>

CHINA ORDINARY MEMBERS >>>

Logistic Service & Engineering Co, Ltd Unit N, 9/F Valiant Industrial Centre 2-12 Au Pui Wan Street Fotan, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2687 5105 Email: info@lgse.com.hk Web: www.lgse.com.hk About us LGSE is a one-stop electronics product development and manufacturing company offering a full range of services from initial feasibility studies to full mass production.

We specialise in medium-volume projects that are too complicated for most others.

With both development and production under one roof, we can offer very competitive total project costs.

This minimises the cost and time when transitioning from development to production and ensures fast, competent production support.

Chamber representative Oscar Hemberg, Technical Director

Copenhagen Malmö Port Terminalgatan 18 SE-201 25 Malmö, Sweden Tel: +46 40 680 41 00 Web: www.cmport.com About us CMP China office’s two main responsibilities are to market CMP as a bounded logistics hub or distribution centre (in Malmö Port) for Chinese exporters’ Northern European market, and to promote the largest leading cruise destination – Copenhagen Port – in Scandinavia. Our target customers include car manufacturers, construction machinery and construction material companies, appliance manufactures, wind and solar power companies, shipping lines, logistics providers and e-business, among others.

Chamber representative Joanna Pan Email: joanna.pan@cmport.com Mobile: +86 183 2111 4210

HONG KONG INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS >>> Per-Johan Dahl Tel: +852 9306 1835 Email: jpdahl@cityu.edu.hk

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Caroline Dahl Tel: +852 9306 2610 Email: caroline@smogstudio.com

Marcus Taeck Tel: +852 2579 9596 Email: marcus.taeck@schneider-electric.com

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Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai 500 Weihai Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai 200041 Tel: +86 21 6256 8888 Fax: +86 21 6287 1025 Web: www.fourseasons.com/shanghai

About us In the heart of Shanghai’s historical centre, the Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai is classic East-meets-West elegance, with 37 stories of contemporary luxury guest rooms, palatial Chinese spa facilities and an eclectic selection of renowned restaurants.

Chamber representatives Fredrik Blomqvist, Hotel Manager Email: fredrik.blomqvist@fourseasons.com Mobile: +86 181 2122 6200 Anthony.Yeung, Director of Marketing Email: anthony.yeung@fourseasons.com Mobile: +86 181 2122 6199

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Regal Scandinavia Ltd No 519, 16 Street Export Processing Zone Xiasha Town Hangzhou City Zhejiang Province 310018 Tel: +86 136 6663 2676 Web: www.regalscandinavia.cn

Valmet (China) Co, Ltd 688 Baofeng Road, Jiading Disctrict Shanghai 201809 Tel: +86 21 3997 5000 Web: www.valmet.com

About us We are an import and e-commerce sales event and travel agency, and also offer production and sales of interior articles.

Chamber representatives Stefan Schörling, President Email: stefan.schorling@regalscandinavia.com Mobile: +86 136 6663 2676 Jennifer Pang, Vice President Email: jennifer_pang@hd4u.cn Mobile: +86 186 5710 2266

About us We are a full-scope supplier of technology and machinery for pulp and paper production (former Metso Paper). Our main offices are in Shanghai, Beijing and Wuxi, and we have workshops in Shanghai and Xi’an.

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Imperial International Freight Forwarding Co, Ltd 758 West Nanjing Road 17C, Hui Yin Building Shanghai 200041 Tel: +86 21 6271 5050-102 Web: www.imperial-international.com About us We engage in import-export-domestic shipping by water, land or air, as well as warehousing storage.

Chamber representative Christian Berlin Email: christian.berlin@imperial-international.com Mobile: +86 186 2114 2466

Chamber representative Bo Faxén Email: bo.faxen@valmet.com Mobile: +86 136 3641 3233

Axstores Far East Limited Units 2303-2306, Maxdo Center No 8 Xingyi Road Shanghai 200336 PR China Web: www.axstores.se About us Axstores is one of the leading retail trading groups in the Nordic region with department stores and specialty stores within fashion, beauty and homeware comprising the Åhléns department store chain and specialty chain stores Kicks and Lagerhaus. In 380 stores in Sweden, Finland and Norway, the Axstores group’s 5,500 employees meet more than 300,000 customers every day.

Chamber representative Karin Brofelth, General Manager Email: karin.brofelth@afe.axstores.com.cn Tel: +86 21 5208 1608

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Hong Kong Re-VAT International Ltd No 1506, Ruicheng International No 71 Chaoyang Road Chaoyang District, Beijing Tel: +86 10 8572 5128 Web: www.re-vat.com

C

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CM

About us Wiseline Corporation is a service company focused on crossborder e-commerce business, making it possible for overseas merchants to enter the Chinese market. Wiseline was founded by European and Chinese cross-border e-commerce veterans in early 2010, working closely with China UnionPay, and we have experience bringing several major platforms and merchants to China. Today, we work as a trusted partner with all major platforms and local providers in China, delivering online payments, website localisation, customer services, business consultancy and e-marketing that best fits the individual merchant.

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Block C5, Suhong Industrial Square, 81 Suhong West Road SIP, 215021 Suzhou, P.R. China usz@unimer.se, www.unimer.cn

Phone: +86 152 5009 5190 Phone: +86 189 3459 9953

Ningbo branch Room 404, Building A, Jiahui Mansion No 11 South Caihong Road Jiangdong District Ningbo, China Tel: +86 574 8797 7270 Fax: +86 574 8797 7271

Wiseline Corporation Limited N3:903, 89 Jianguolu Chaoyang District Beijing, China 100025 Tel: +86 150 0226 8663 Web: www.wiseline.biz

Chamber representatives Karl Alberts, Director Email: karl.alberts@gmail.com Mobile: +86 150 1060 6724 LI Shanshan, CEO Email: Wiseline.ServiceTeam@gmail.com Mobile: +86 150 0226 8663

MY

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Chamber representative Carol Han, Sales Director Email: carol@re-vat.com Mobile: +86 186 1108 7717

About us Norman Global Logistics is a privately owned and managed company that provides global logistics solutions for its customers. We have offices in Asia and Europe, providing professional and cost-effective logistics solutions, with a high level of personal engagement. Efficient IT solutions in combination with highly personalised service, flexibility and responsibility are the standard in our business relations.

Our business activities cover the complete supply chain – air, sea, road, warehouse, pick & pack, logistics – and within all those categories, we also offer specialist bespoke services.

We make logistics simple for our clients and work hard to achieve trouble-free international movements for your shipments.

CMY

About us We assist our corporate clients in claiming back VAT refunds occurred in business activities with the European Union.

Meanwhile, we can also help individuals reclaim their personal VAT worldwide.

Norman Global Logistics Room 601, International Capital Plaza No 1318 North Sichuan Rd, Shanghai Tel: +86 21 3656 2090 Web: www.normanglobal.com

Rubber Products Plastic Products Flexible hoses Assembly

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Hong Kong branch 811, 8F, Tower 1, Cheung Sha Wan Plaza 833 Cheung Sha Wan Road Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: +852 3582 3440 Fax: +852 3582 4366 Chamber representative Stefan Holmqvist, Managing Director Email: stefan.holmqvist@normanglobal.com Mobile: +852 9167 1763

CHINA ASSOCIATE MEMBER >>> Huang Bokai Ping’an Financial Centre Room 1005, Tower A Xinyuan Nan Lu 1-3, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027 Web: www.rtcapital.cn Email: bokai2002@hotmail.com Mobile: +86 159 0115 8727

Josefine M. Mosse josefine@executivehomes.hk

Af t e r hou r s

Doing business in Sweden?

n Stores New premises for Sverige Shoppen

n Communities

Sverige Shoppen (the Sweden Shop) has moved to new and more spacious premises in Hong Kong. Since September, it has been located on the 18th floor of Star House, with easy access from the Star Ferry Pier in Tsimshatsui and from the MTR exit L6.

Sverige Shoppen, run by Carol Ågren, opened in 2012 and has a broad line of Swedish products that also can be delivered to the doorstep by ordering online. It has expanded by offering a variety of Swedish aquavit, whisky and wine in a section called Little Systembolaget, after the government-owned chain of liquor stores in Sweden.

Address: Unit 1825A, 18/F, Star House, No 3 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2312 1919 Web: www.sverigeshoppen.com Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 7pm.

Closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Buy the finest of Scandinavia online In June, Regal Scandinavia hosted its grand opening and release party at the Marriott Hotel in Beijing. Regal Scandinavian is an exclusive members club devoted to sharing the Scandinavian lifestyle. Discover the finest Scandinavian design, home decoration, jewellery and accessories, all collected together in one location.

Get access to these unique treasures by applying for membership at www.regalscandinavia.com, or by via email: apply@regalscandinavia.com.

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Förmögenhetsrådgivning, när den är som bäst, inkluderar med andra ord allt som kan påverka din personliga förmögenhet, nu och i framtiden. Vi har kompetensen och de tekniska systemen för att kunna ge dig den bästa servicen som finns att få. Och framförallt – genom att vara en stor bank har vi möjlighet att erbjuda dig de bästa specialisterna. En personlig rådgivare, många specialister – gör det möjligt.

At Home • Kindergarten/School/High School/University • At Work

Besök oss på www.nordeaprivatebanking.com eller ring kontoret i Singapore på +65 6597 1082, så bokar vi ett möte.

Nordea Bank S.A:s Singapore-kontor ingår i Nordea, den ledande finanskoncernen i Norden och Östersjöregionen. Vissa tjänster och produkter som beskrivs i detta material är eventuellt inte godkända för försäljning i vissa länder. Huruvida du kan eller bör köpa en produkt kan bland annat bero på din riskprofil och lagen i det land där du är bosatt. Detta material ska inte betraktas som ett erbjudande om att köpa eller sälja någon placeringsprodukt eller att göra någon annan affär. Det ska inte heller betraktas som ett erbjudande att tillhandahålla banktjänster i något land där Nordea Bank S.A:s Singapore-kontor eller något av dess närstående bolag inte har tillstånd att bedriva bankrörelse. Publicerad av Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg no. B 14.157 för Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore-kontoret, 3 Anson Rd #20-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com AD_Dragonnews_210x140_swe_Jonas_2014.indd 1

48 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

EAS Beijing Office, China, Mr Shangyou Dong, Manager, Ph: 0086 10 85322147,Cell: 0086 135 2199 5330, Mail: shangyou.dong@easab.com

SWEDEN HQ Environmental Air of Sweden AB. Mr Göran Hertzberg, M D, Ph: 0046 761 048 350, Mail: info@easab.com

Jonas Bergqvist, Private Banker

25/02/2014 11:21

www.easab.com

Th e ch a mb e r a nd I Experiences of local healthcare For this issue of Dragon News, we asked some of our members about their views on and experience of healthcare in the city they live.

These were the questions: 1. Do you have any experience of public or private healthcare where you live in China or Hong Kong?

2. If so, what is your view of the healthcare system there?

3. Is there anything that the Swedish healthcare system can learn from China/HK? 4. Have you tried Traditional Chinese Medicine?

And below are the answers.

Magnus Hagberg

Anna Palmgren

Kennet Stigsson

Ericsson, Beijing

SwedBiz Design & Development, Hong Kong

1. “Yes, private healthcare.”

2. “Very efficient and professional.”

3. “I think the Swedish doctors and nurses are doing way too much administration work and should have more time to take care of patients.”

4. “I have tried the herbs in hot water to prevent getting a cold.”

1. “Yes but only private hospitals.”

2. “The service is good since it’s private and most customers are foreigners.”

3. “Better planning to avoid long waiting times, but I guess in Sweden it’s an issue about funding to hire more specialists and so on.”

4. “No.”

Andreas Engström

Caroline Briggert

Swegon, Shanghai

Kreab Gavin Anderson, Hong Kong

1. “Yes, both.”

2. “Doctors’ skills in general are not a problem. The fact is that the level of skills should be higher here because the volume of patients is bigger and the frequency of, for instance, surgical procedures is greater. The main problem is that all hospitals, private and state-owned, are highly profit-driven and this affects their ethics. You have to be very careful and ask right questions to avoid being given the wrong diagnosis and medicines you don’t need.

Using www.1177.se is very useful as you can get independent advice on diagnosis and medicines.”

3. “After 15 years in China and experience of both Swedish and Chinese healthcare systems, I can only say we should be grateful in Sweden for what we have today.”

4. “Yes, once.”

1. “Fortunately, my contacts with Hong Kong’s healthcare system have been minimal. I have good experiences from the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital where doctors are firm but professional.”

2. “As long as I have gone through my European insurance company, it has been an incredibly easy and straight forward process and I felt as if I was in safe, professional hands.”

3. “In general, I believe in Asia’s holistic approach to healthcare and I think Sweden would benefit from incorporating more of that thinking in the healthcare system.”

4. “I have tried some random powder, lotions and potions that my local colleagues have recommended. I do Chinese acupressure massage and lymphatic detox massage on a regular basis however and I love it.”

Bulten, Beijing 1. “Yes, private. In order to get my visa, I underwent a thorough health inspection upon arrival.”

2. “The day felt more like a day in a factory as I was moved throughout various stations, each with one specific task.”

3. “The system in itself is very unique, but I suppose that the treatment of multiple standard procedures like the one I experienced could be done simultaneously with larger groups as it is done in China.”

4. “I’ve got a lot of different kinds of tea at home – red, green, black, herbal, and so on. They’re all supposed to be good for something, and I suppose they help as I haven’t had to turn to a hospital yet.”

Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China

DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD Ulf Ohrling, Chairman [Mannheimer Swartling] Jimmy Bjennmyr [Handelsbanken] Carl Christensson [SEB] Eva Henriksson [Henriksson Consulting] Karine Hirn [East Capital] Walter Jennings [Kreab Gavin Anderson] Pontus Karlsson [Happy Rabbit] Staffan Löfgren [ScanAsia Consulting] Per Ågren [APC Asia Pacific Cargo]

DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD Katarina Nilsson, Chairman [Advokatfirman Vinge] Lars-Åke Severin, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Beijing Chapter [PSU] Ulf Söderström, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Shanghai Chapter [SCA] Fredrik Ektander, Treasurer [SEB] Liselotte Duthu [Atlas Copco] Birgitta Ed [Six Year Plan] Karine Hirn [East Capital] Chunyuan Gu [ABB] Peter Idsäter [Mannheimer Swartling] Daniel Karlsson [Asia Perspective] Martin Pei [SSAB] Peter Sandberg [Tobii]

50 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014

Jimmy Bjennmyr Head of Corporate Banking Hong Kong Branch

Mikael Westerback Head of Greater China and General Manager Shanghai branch

Florence Chan Senior Account Manager Hong Kong Branch

Johan AndrĂŠn Deputy Head of Greater China and General Manager Hong Kong branch

Shanghai – Mikael Westerback +86 21 6329 8877 ext 888, Pontus Gertell +86 21 6329 8877 ext 848