Special issue: Swedish Bulletin 2012 by Embassy of India, Stockholm

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Dear Readers, 5

S U M M E R I 2011 P U B L I S H E D BY SWEDISH BULLETIN HB

RESPONSIBLE PUBLISHER AND CHIEF EDITOR TERESA IVARS LANGUAGE EDITOR M AT T L U D LO W LAURA POINTING COVER P rime ministers o f S weden and I ndia , Fredri k R ein f eldt and D r . M anmohan S ingh

L AY O U T L LO Y D A X T E N M I L A N PAT E L

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE E L I Z A B E T H D A C E Y- F O N D E L I U S PETRA ERIKSSON GIGI DE GROOT ERIC SAHLSTRÖM INSTITUTET CHRISTINA LINDEROTH-OLSON LARS NORDSTRAND E ric Paglia J O S H U A PA G L I A N.B. RAO MOIRA SULLIVAN E C PAT S V E R I G E

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As summer begins it seems more than just a few months ago that Sweden suffered a harsh winter fraught with extreme weather. Temperatures as low as –36 degrees Celsius coupled with heavy snowfalls and strong winds played havoc with the country’s transport systems. The winter-hardened nation even had to call in the military after flooding caused widespread damage in Kalmar county in November. The country, however, has thawed from its winter freeze, thus beginning Sweden’s most beautiful time of year. Summer brings the allure of the midnight sun and all it’s conjoining celebrations. The outdoors, on both land and sea, becomes abuzz with intrepid Swedes and there are festivals that offer the opportunity to eat, drink and celebrate al fresco, as the Italians say. Yes, summer in Sweden really is an acclamation of all that the country has to offer. The summer issue of Swedish Bulletin features Sweden and India, one of the most fascinating and exotic places in the world. The cultural and economic ties between India and Sweden are flourishing. An overview of a summer well spent golfing in idyllic climes is covered in Golfing in India. On a more academic note, India: A Growth Industry and The Indian Economy discuss the country’s swelling biotechnology industry and rapidly growing economy respectively. Lastly, the Indian ambassador to Sweden HE Mr Ashok Sajjanhar offers us his valuable insight into his many years of experience in the world of diplomacy. Staying with issues of economy, the history and functions of the Riksbank, from its foundation to the present day is discussed in this edition. This issue also talks about the Keolis transport network, which is also experiencing a period of growth. This issue also covers environmental concerns, and ways in which they are currently being overcome, in Business & Environment. This coincides with the annual influx of prospective prize winners in varied fields such as water conservation (see Next Generation Steps up to Water Challenges), the Swedish Woman of the Year award is also mentioned in the article on SWEA (Swedish Women’s Educational Association) and all their good work world-wide. So on to summer then and Sweden’s great migration to all things pleasurable. Perhaps the article on Kosterhavet, Båstad and Torekov will inspire you to visit some of the country’s natural wonders or, if you are more inclined toward art and history, Lust & Vice at Nationalmuseum talks about the forthcoming exhibition at the National Museum. As always, Swedish Bulletin brings you articles for the long summer’s reading and we wish you all a very happy and fun-filled summer.

Teresa Ivars Publisher and Chief Editor

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swedish

SUMMER 2011

FOCUS

PEOPLE

SWEDISH REGIONS

CULTURE

10 The Indian ambassador to Sweden Ashok

Susanne bier’s new film Making a Better World

ncover the underground culture of Swedish U folk music

ust and Vice at Nationalmuseum takes L the visitor on a journey through art’s sexual erotic past

The Vasa warship - 50 years above the waves

he Indian economy in all its strength and T resilience offers tremendous opportunities across sectors India offers truly memorable golfing experiences

18 The Indian biotechnology sector is one of

the fastest growing knowledge based sectors in India

FEATURES

20 Indian Cows and Dalarna horses – Gigi de

Groot explores cultural differences between the Swedes and Indians

22 India – A Unique Cultural Heritage dating back 5000 years

Sajjanhar believes the two countries are on the threshold of an exciting expansion of bi-lateral relations

THE SEASON SWEDISH COMPANIES & ORGANISATIONS

24 Sweden’s Riksbank, founded in 1668 when

the country was a major European power is the oldest central bank in the world

25 Business and Environment - Business for a sustainable future

26 Keolis exports customer satisfaction across

the globe - The passenger transport operator Keolis is becoming an increasingly large part of everyday life.

30 You can make a difference in protecting

children against sexual exploitation in travel and tourism

32 SWEA are networking women all over the

globe - With around 8,000 members, the evergrowing SWEA is the largest organization promoting Swedish culture outside of Sweden

osterhavet - Sweden’s first marine national K park is striving to protect the area’s natural marine environment

46 Sailing: a nation’s obsession - for over a

quarter of all Swedes it’s just not summer without a boat

ENVIRONMENT

TRAVEL

38 The Stockholm Junior Water Prize brings

together bright minds from over 30 nations

astad, Torekov and the Bjare Peninsula; jewels B of Sweden waiting to be discovered

50 World Water Week; the Stockholm Water Prize is honouring heroes for people and the planet

LIFESTYLE

54 Swedish fashion: a success story -

The Swedish fashion trade includes major international companies, celebrated designers and exciting rookies

”New wings for the North of Lappland” Established 1990

Arvidsjaur Airport • SE-93391 Arvidsjaur Phone: +46(0)960 17380 • info@ajr.nu • www.ajr.nu

PEOPLE

Growing Together T E X T: E ric Paglia

The Indian Ambassador to Sweden, Ashok Sajjanhar, believes the two countries are on the threshold of an exciting expansion of bi-lateral relations.

mbassador Ashok Sajjanhar’s diplomatic career has coincided with the remarkable rise of India from a nation known for widespread poverty to one of the world’s greatest success stories of the past thirty years.Today people are more likely to associate India with information technology, Bollywood films and rapid economic growth than with illiteracy, malnutrition and the caste system. However, old images do linger, and Ambassador Sajjanhar has, in his many diplomatic postings, carried on an assertive outreach campaign.The purpose of which is to bridge what he calls the “information divide” between conceptions of the India of the post-colonial period and the modern India of the 21st century. Having only been ambassador to Sweden for six months, he has already established a bi-monthly news magazine, a web-site, an embassy Facebook group, given numerous presentations across the country on the current situation and future prospects of India, and organized events at the Ambassadorial residence for the Swedish media, businessmen and various diverse interest groups. While some foreign sects may hold some outdated notions of India, the business and political class, according to Ambassador Sajjanhar, have a strong understanding of what the India of today represents: the largest democracy in the world with stable institutions and smooth political transitions every five years, a rapidly growing economy with a huge middle class, and a model of multicultural governance that currently includes a government consisting of a Hindu president, Muslim vice-president, Sikh prime minister and Christian leader of the ruling Congress Party.

P H O T O : I ndian embassy

“Economic growth must be inclusive to avoid social tensions, and inflation, which tends to impact on the poorest segments of society. The strong example set by Sweden in the public provision of social welfare services such as education and health care, as well the administration of sectors such as water and energy can be useful for India.”

argues, lead to many other areas of co-operation, such as in science, research and development. Ambassador Sajjanhar considers vision and evaluation of areas of primary convergence between countries as a core diplomatic skill that enables an Ambassador to promote an agenda for increasing economic dynamism to the benefit of both nations.

“Energy, in fact, is an area where economic bridges are already being built, with collaboration between Indian and Swedish firms on renewable energy technologies such as solar power being one example.”

Simply pursuing a commercial agenda, however, would leave bilateral relations wanting; a well-rounded relationship also includes culture, which Ambassador Sajjanhar says is a cementing force that offers another means of expanding understanding and appreciation between nations. Cultural diplomacy is an especially potent force when considering a heritage as colourful as India’s.

India is an ancient civilization but a young nation with a median age of 24 years. India’s youth is well educated, skilled, motivated and ambitious.

“Wherever I have gone, I have tried to reach out and expand relations through the medium of culture, whether music, literature or dance,” says the Ambassador, who is pleased that Indian culture has started to catch on in Sweden - a 4 month long event having recently taken place at the Culture House in Stockholm.

When discussing India, the issue of population is unavoidable. Instead of seeing India’s fertility rate as a problem, the Ambassador calls the country’s young and educated population its “demographic dividend” a factor that bodes well for India’s future.

Ambassador Sajjanhar also points out that Sweden’s long track record of safety and security in the nuclear power sector could become an area where co-operation could further enhance bilateral relations.

“India is an ancient civilization but a young nation with a median age of 24 years. India’s youth is well educated, skilled, motivated and ambitious. It will produce more, save more, consume more and invest more to ensure India’s double digit growth in the coming decades,” says the Ambassador.

The two countries’ economies have emerged from the global financial crisis with much stronger growth than most other nations. Ambassador Sajjanhar views this as providing great potential for augmenting the economic relationship, which he says is on the threshold of a very exciting period of expansion. Aside from energy, the Ambassador also cites pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, infrastructure, education, healthcare and telecommunications as areas with great prospects of increased economic co-operation.With an extensive professional background in international commerce, he considers trade to be, in most cases, the foundation or “bread and butter” of bi-lateral relations. Strong trade ties between countries, he

“This is not to say that India does not face major social, economic and environmental challenges, with its burgeoning economy and growing population requiring a constant expansion of the country’s physical and social infrastructure,” he acknowledges.

Culture is also an important part of the Ambassador’s family life, as his son and daughter are both accomplished musicians and his wife a painter. He himself once presided over an Indian cultural institute in Moscow. At the person-to-person level of bi-lateral relations, India has recently relaxed visa requirements for Swedes as a means to encourage tourism and other forms of cross-cultural exchange. On the political front, India is grateful for the support of Sweden in its bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Most notable appreciation going to Foreign Minister Carl Bildt for his efforts when calling Security Council expansion without India “inconceivable”. Sweden has also backed the creation of a free trade area between India and the European Union. Reflecting on his career in foreign service, with a life enriched by living largely abroad, Ambassador Sajjanhar paraphrases Mahatma Gandhi on the value of being exposed to other cultures while remaining true to one’s own:“I have been surrounded by open windows to let fresh ideas and winds blow in, but my feet have been solidly rooted in the multicultural ethos of India so that the winds have not been able to knock me off my feet”.

FOCUS

Dun & Bradstreet, a leading international consultancy, which projects a GDP growth of 8.8 per cent for the current fiscal, estimates that the services (or tertiary) sector will expand by a robust 9.9 per cent in the current fiscal. In the last quarter of the previous fiscal (JanuaryMarch, 2011), the services sector is projected to have seen a breezy 10.5 per cent expansion. The challenge for the UPA (United Progressive Alliance government), which has been ruling India since 2004, is to accelerate this growth rate to 10-plus per cent while simultaneously keeping a check on inflation and ensuring inclusive growth. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has stated in the past that the only way to raise the standard of living for millions of Indians is by ensuring doubledigit growth.

India’s resilient economy managed not just to survive the great global recession, but was also among the first to rebound and get back on the right track.

The Indian Economy T E X T: N . B . R ao

The Indian economy, in all it’s strength and resilience, offers tremendous opportunities across sectors.

oday, the Indian economy is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world.The US, Europe and other large parts of the developed world have been experiencing anaemic growth for some years. The global recession of 2008 and 2009 saw many of the leading economies 12

shrink, triggering economic crises unseen since the end of the Great Depression. Fortunately, India’s resilient economy managed not just to survive the great global recession, but was also among the first to rebound and get back on the right track. Over the next

financial year (2011-12), which ends on March 31, 2012, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at 9.25 per cent. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), a leading think-tank, the agricultural and allied sector is projected to grow by 3.1 per cent in the current fiscal; this is on the back of a 5.1 per cent growth recorded last year, and will be the third consecutive year of growth in the farm economy. The industrial sector, including construction, is expected to grow at a brisk 9.4 per cent compared with 8.5 per cent last year.

Economic reforms in India, which have been pursued vigorously by successive governments since they were introduced in the early 1990s, have helped propel the economy on a higher growth trajectory in recent years.The present government, which has been allocating large sums in social development programmes, including a landmark rural employment project, has also been encouraging the private sector to invest in the core sector. The Indian economy expanded by an average of over nine per cent for three years before the onset of the global recession. Following this it decelerated slightly, slowing down to around 6.8 per cent at its lowest before rebounding last year to the estimated 8.6 per cent level.The trillion-plus dollar economy is now poised to expand at similar or higher levels.

Unlike many other economies that are hugely dependent on exports, India’s growth is fuelled by domestic consumption. India’s external trade though has also remained buoyant in the aftermath of the recession. It’s merchandise exports for the financial year 2010-11 added up to $246 billion, a sharp 37.5 per cent growth over the previous year’s figures. Imports also rose by 21.5 per cent to $350.3 billion, reflecting the buoyancy of the economy.

Net FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) inflows into India were up by 11 per cent at $20 billion in 2010. According to figures by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country’s central bank, total FDIs into India totalled almost $200 billion towards the end of 2010.The services sector attracted 17.7 per cent of FDI in 2010, followed by telecom (7.6 per cent), automobiles (7.1 per cent), power (6.7 per cent) and housing and real estate (6 per cent).

Exports in March shot up by a phenomenal 43.9 per cent to $29.1 billion, the highest growth ever recorded. India has set a target of $450 billion for exports by 2014. India’s external trade has thrived even as the developed world has still to emerge from the recession, as exporters sought opportunities in newer markets including Latin America, Africa and other parts of Asia.

One of the most significant FDIs in recent months was the $7.2 billion investment by British Petroleum, which acquired a 30 per cent stake in 23 of the 29 exploration blocks held by Reliance Industries in South India.

The vibrant foreign trade has resulted in soaring foreign exchange reserves, now adding up to more than $300 billion. This can be acredited to surging service and product exports, sharply escalating inward remittances and increased foreign direct investments (FDI) and portfolio investments by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sensing enormous opportunities in the country. According to the World Bank’s Migration and Remittances Factbook, India has emerged as the world’s largest recipient of remittances. In 2010, inward remittances added up to $55 billion in contrast with $49.6 billion a year earlier.The 25 million-plus Indian-origin expatriates living across the globe, especially in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe, continue to repatriate funds to India, affirming their confidence in the economy.

The vibrant foreign trade has resulted in soaring foreign exchange reserves, now adding up to more than $300 billion.

In terms of portfolio investments, RBI figures indicate there was a surge last year, with inflows adding up to $172 billion towards the end of December, an increase of $55 billion from the previous year. FIIs have been making massive investments in the Indian capital markets, both equity and debt, reflecting their confidence in the growth potential of the Indian economy. Growth in India is evident not just in the metros and major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, it’s also apparent in tier-II and tier-III cities. Last October, for instance, a group of businessmen from Aurangabad, a small city in Maharashtra, made waves when they joined hands and decided to buy 150 Mercedes Benz cars at a cost of almost $15 million.This was the singlelargest order for cars for the German company. A few weeks later, another group of businessmen and professionals from Aurangabad got together and bought 101 BMWs. Luxury carmakers including Mercedes and BMW are now focussing on tier-II cities across the country and are reporting a huge growth in demand. India is also viewed as an excellent manufacturing hub by many of the major automobile producers. Sectors such as automobiles, infrastructure, information technology, healthcare, higher education, travel & tourism and banking are among the fastest-growing in India.

FOCUS

he country’s appetite for infrastructure is indeed enormous. The Indian government estimates that more than a trillion US dollars would be needed to invest in infrastructure projects.This money would be distributed to areas including airports and ports, roads and highways, power projects, urban development and telecommunications over the next five years. International investors, including private equity (PE) funds, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, have started ploughing money into the sector, either directly (through the foreign direct investment route) or through the capital markets route by infusing funds into companies involved with infrastructure development. Bain & Co, an international consultancy, said recently that PE funds have invested about $13 billion (equivalent to a fourth of total capital flows into the country) in the infrastructure sector over the last five years. Energy projects saw the maximum inflow of PE funds (about 45 per cent of the total), followed by the telecom sector.

The Indian government estimates that more than a trillion US dollars would be needed to invest in infrastructure projects.

India is today the world’s fastest-growing telecom market. The energy sector is growing at a rapid rate as demand for electricity is surging across the Indian subcontinent. Over the last five years, India’s capacity for generating energy (currently placed at 160,000 MW) increased by more than 50,000 MW, and over the next five years is likely to go up by 100,000 MW. Another fast-growing infrastructure sector, attracting several major international companies, is telecommunications. India is today the world’s fastest-growing telecom market. The Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI), for instance, reported in February alone 20.2 million new mobile phone subscribers signed up for services.This takes the total number of wireless phones in use to 791.38 million.

The total number of phones, both wireless and wired, now exceeds 825 million and in a few years India will have emerged as the world’s largest telecommunications market. Interestingly, the expanse of telecommunications is even penetrating rural India, where a majority of the people live (around 750 million). In February, TRAI figures reveal that growth in mobile phone subscription outstripped expansion in cities; it went up by 2.82 per cent in villages, as against 2.52 per cent in urban areas. The rural economy, which is dependent on agriculture, is also rebounding in India as a growing number of marketers (including a few multinationals) are discovering. Demand for fast moving consumer goods, consumer electronics

PriceWaterhouseCooper said recently that India would continue to be the second-fastest growing economy for the next 40 years. By 2050, it is expected to rank among the top-three global economies, along with China and the US. and durables, and other products and services are rising in rural and semi-urban areas.This comes as millions of Indians generate surplus income, get access to credit and are gradually seeing an improvement in their standard of living.

by between 9 and 9.5 per cent during the 2012-17 period.

India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, has been pushing for greater public-private partnerships (PPPs) for building national assets.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, is confident that the agriculture sector will grow at an average annual rate of four per cent during the 12th plan period. Of course, the industrial and service sectors are projected to grow at much higher rates of between 10 and 12 per cent.

“PPPs, wherein the private sector is participating in the construction and operation of public infrastructure assets, is one of the most important developments in infrastructure delivery in our country,” says Mukherjee.

The private sector is expected to play a major role in financing infrastructure projects. In fact, Mukherjee expects the private sector to contribute in equal measure to the government’s ambitious plans to upgrade and build new infrastructure over the next five years. The 12th five-year plan is due to begin on April 1st, 2012, and the Planning Commission, the body which oversees the process, expects the economy to grow

India’s biggest advantage, besides its politically mature and vibrant democratic system, is its youthful population which would ensure a handsome demographic dividend. By the next decade, a million Indians will be joining the work-force every month, accounting for a quarter of the world’s new workers. The 300 million-plus Indians who comprise the middle-class will burgeon as millions of new workers join the mainstream. India’s strong educational system, with it’s emphasis on mathematical and scientific abilities, as well as English, will ensure that Indians will continue dominating the global services sector.

The Indian economy has shown remarkable resilience and strength, it continues to expand at an impressive pace and offers tremendous opportunities across sectors.

FOCUS

Golf in India There are over 200 golf courses in the country, each one of them possessing unique characteristics and offering a memorable playing experience.

India offers truly memorable golfing experiences.

India’s British antecedents made it the first country outside of Great Britain to take up the game of golf. The Royal Calcutta Golf Club, the oldest golf club in India, and the first outside the British Isles, was established in 1829.

Western India:

Golfing can be enjoyed in the picturesque peaks of the lofty Himalyas in the state of Jammu & Kashmir at Gulmarg and Srinagar. Gulmarg has the distinction of having one of the world’s highest green golf course. The Royal Springs Golf Club in Srinagar is one of the most beautiful Golf courses in the world, offering panoramic views of the Dal Lake. Chandigarh offers some well planned golf courses such as Chandigarh Golf Club and Forest Hills Golf Resort. Similarly, Agra Golf Club provides a spectacular view of the Taj Mahal.

Bombay Presidency Golf Club, founded in 1927 and has since been redesigned to international standards by the legendry five time British Open champion Peter Thompson. Located 170 km south of Mumbai is Pune, the cultural capital of Maharastra, and where you will find Poona Club Golf Course.

Delhi and the surrounding areas such as Gurgaon, Noida and Greater Noida, make up the true golfing capital of India. This part of the country offers over a dozen world class golf courses, each one having it’s own uniqueness, such as Delhi Golf Club, perhaps the only one in the world dotted with ancient monuments. Classic Golf Resort on Delhi Jaipur Highway is another course of note, not to mention Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida, perhaps the longest course in Asia.The Rambagh Palace & Golf Club in Jaipur is blessed with views of splendor, overlooking the Moti Doongri Palace and the historical Nahargarh Fort.

Southern India: Madras Gymkhana Club, The TNGF-Cosmo Golf Course in Chennai, Banglore Golf Club, KGA Golf Course, Eagleton Golf Village in Banglore are all situated in the south. Other southern cities such as Coimbatore, Mysore and Kodaikanal also have beautiful courses nestled in the natural surroundings.

Eastern Region: The Royal Calcutta Golf Club established in 1929 is the oldest golf club outside of the British Isles. A course of great serenity can also be found in Digboi, previously famed for it’s oil discovered in 1879.

The Royal Springs Golf Club in Srinagar is one of the most beautiful Golf courses in the world, offering panoramic views of the Dal Lake.

T E X T: N . B . R ao

hether on business or leisure, a game of golf is just a wish away. From the remoteness of the Himalayas, through emerald tea estates to crowded towns and cities, there is a different flavour to suit every need enabling you to experience the country in a unique manner. In recent years, a large number of international standard courses designed by golfing names as prestigious as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman have sprung up in India.These offer even the most dedicated amateur, innumerable challenges.

Northern India:

Golf had been an established past-time in India for 59 years before the first major course was opened in the USA in 1888. By the end of the 19th century, the number of existing golf clubs in India was into double figures. Today India is ready to cater to the vast, growing demands of golf tourism. There are over 200 golf courses in the country, each one of them possessing unique characteristics and offering a memorable playing experience.The best thing about playing golf in India is the fact that one can appreciate these exceptional courses at very economical rates.These golfing facilities are backed with excellent lodging and boarding arrangements depending on which part of India you are visiting.

FOCUS

India: A Growth Industry T E X T: N . B . R ao

The Indian biotechnology sector is one of the fastest growing knowledge-based sectors in India. It is expected to play a key role in shaping India’s rapidly developing economy.

anking among the 12 leading biotech industries globally the Indian biotechnology sector is, next to Japan and South Korea, the third largest in Asia. In 2009, 15,000 scientists were engaged in the biotechnology sector. At present, 3 million graduates, 700,000 postgraduates and 1,500 PhDs are added to India’s talent pool every year. There was a brief slowdown in growth during the global economic downturn due to the heavy reliance on exports. However, the industry emerged strong in 2010 and is poised to witness another period of high growth. The Indian government has been both proactive and supportive in driving innovation in the Indian biotechnology sector. The Indian biotech industry crossed the US $3 billion mark in 2010, witnessing a 23 per cent growth over the previous year. Of this, the share of domestic consumption was 47 per cent, while exports accounted for 53 per cent of the overall revenues. While segments such as bio-pharma, bioinformatics and bioservices represent a substantial chunk of the export market, bio-industrial and bio-agriculture generate a major share of revenues serving the domestic market. India is also gaining importance as a clinical trial destination with the country moving climbing six places from 18th to 12th in the rankings of the 60 most active countries.

According to a report by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and YES Bank, the Indian biotechnology industry is estimated to witness a 20 per cent annual growth rate, this means reaching US$ 8 billion by 2015 from US$ 1 billion in 2005. The report forecasts that India will account for 3-5 per cent of the global biopharmaceutical market. In the recent past, the Government of India and UNESCO have agreed to establish the Regional Centre for research, training and education in biotechnology at Faridabad, India. Further to this, the Indian government’s Department of Biotechnology has also decided to set up a unique Health Biotech Science Cluster (HBSC) at the same location. The government is fast-forwarding the process of setting up a National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority to stimulate public and private investment in biotechnology. It has also proposed to set up a US$ 641 million venture capital fund for giving a fillip to drug discovery and strengthening the pharma infrastructure in the country. The National Agri Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), a project of the Department of Biotechnology is likely to be ready within the next three years and will be India’s first institute in the field of agri-biotechnology.

Besides the central government initiatives, individual states are also contributing to promote the biotechnology industry. States such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been early movers in establishing world-class biotech parks and clusters. A large number of industry associated biotech finishing schools are emerging all over India creating a steady talent pool. In order to augment institutional research capacity, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is in the process of setting up 50 centres of excellence in Biotechnology in the country. Investments, along with outsourcing activities and exports, are key drivers for growth in the biotech sector. Some of the major investors in the sector include Swiss Pharma company Lonza AG in the Genome Valley project, Hyderabad; Biocon’s plans to set up plants that would supply generic biotechnology drugs to Europe, the United States and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to spend US $63.5 million to upgrade and custom-make its existing line of biotech products for civilian use.

A number of link ups, both by the public and private sector, are planned which will give a boost to the Indian biotech industry. These include: Biocon Ltd’s deal with Pfizer to globally commercialise four of its insulin biosimilar products and MoU with Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp). The custom research subsidiary of Biocon Ltd: Syngene International’s collaboration with Endo Pharmaceuticals USA, to develop biological therapeutic molecules against cancer. MoU of the Department of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s arranged work with Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) and Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK. An agreement on Russia-India Biotech Network (RIBN) for collaboration between Russian and Indian biotech companies. A Partnership between GVK Biosciences with US-based clinical organisation Research Point Global. A Joint Venture between Ecron Acunova with Bangkok-based, Jamjuree Innovations Co Ltd.

The Indian biotech industry crossed the US $3 billion mark in 2010, witnessing a 23 per cent growth over the previous year. 19

C U LT U R E

Culture

Gigi de Groot explores cultural differences between the Swedes and Indians. T E X T: G I G I D E G R O O T

Join the Celebrations. Dance with the locals

Feel the spirit and exuberance of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth. In villages, cities and jungles.

PHOTOS: SID HUTCHINGS

INDIAN TRAVEL ARTICLE

www.incredibleindia.org 20

info@indiatourismamsterdam.com

C U LT U R E

India: A Unique Cultural Heritage

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.

India, the seventh largest and the second most populated country in the world, is one of the few countries which can boast of an ancient, deep-rooted and diverse culture and civilization dating back more than 5000 years.

ndia is a country with an endless diversity starting from its physical features to geologic structure, fauna and flora, demographic structure, languages, religions, arts and crafts and customs and traditions. India has also been variously described as ‘the mini world’ and an ‘ethnological museum’. The remarkable regional diversity of India is also such that each State of India has its own language and set of festivals and traditions along with different art forms. Most of the states are also known for their typical and unique folk and classic dance forms.There has been a continuous evolution of dance, drama, music, painting and folk art forms during different periods of time leading to an unbroken tradition of combining old and new.

Albert Einstein

India presents a picture of unity in diversity to which history provides no parallel. There is complete harmony in India in each of its cultural elements. Religion and philosophy; which form the bedrock of any civilisation, are evident in India in the form of all major religions in the world - Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism. Indian music has a very long and unbroken tradition, which has accumulated over centuries and can be traced back to its origin in the Vedic days. India’s Natyashastra (4th Century AD) is a monumental, comprehensive work on the science and technique of Indian drama, dance and music. A large variety of foreign musical instruments like Harmonium, Sarod, Shehnai, Sitar, Tabla and Violin were introduced in India to supplement the ancient musical instruments like the Flute, Nadaswaram,Veena, Gottuvadhyam, Thavli, Mridangam and Plain drum.

and Calculus besides the best-known achievements of the decimal system. The Sanskrit language of India has also been credited to be the most suitable language for computer software.

Besides India’s contributions to poetry, music, dance and art since ancient times, India has also contributed to the world in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, medicine and other forms of modern science. India’s most precious gifts to the world have been the discovery of the numeral zero, Algebra, Trigonometry

Famous personalities too have described India in the most evocative manner. Max Muller, an Indologist from Germany stated “If I were to look over the whole world to find the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty that nature can bestow – in some parts a very paradise on earth – I should

point to India. If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed the choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solution of some of them, which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant – I should point to India.”

India’s culture and heritage is so rich and deep-rooted that it may take several months or even years to understand all its dimensions. From time immemorial, India has fascinated many a world traveller like Fa-hien, Hiuen Tsang, Ibn Batuta, Alberuni, Ferishta,Vasco da Gama, Marco Polo and several others. Albert Einstein once said “We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.”

S W E D I S H C O M PA N I E S

Sveriges Riksbank The Central Bank of Sweden T E X T: C hristina L inderoth - O lson

P H O T O S : S veriges R i k sban k

Sweden’s Riksbank, founded in 1668 when the country was a major European power, is the oldest central bank in the world.

ocated at Brunkebergstorg in central Stockholm, the Riksbank is an imposing building made of large blocks of black granite, erected in the 1970s. The Swedish architect, Peter Celsing (1920-74), working on his last project, intended the building to resemble a strongbox. The bank is responsible for Sweden’s monetary policy, with the aim to maintain price stability. Price stability, in the Riksbank’s interpretation, is to keep the level of inflation low and stable, which means that the consumer price index should be around two per cent per annum. In order to keep inflation under control, the Riksbank uses the repo rate, which is the bank’s key interest rate.

Another objective is to promote a safe and efficient payment system, and the Riksbank regularly assesses risk levels in the big Swedish banks, as well as in the central financial infrastructure. The Riksbank provides the nation with banknotes and coins, it has two offices that supply the banks with cash.Via the banks, or their agents, cash is then distributed to trade retailers and the public. The gold reserve is one of the financial assets managed by the bank. Gold has a historic link with banknotes and coins. In the past, banknotes and coins could at any time be redeemed at the bank in exchange for gold.

Stefan Ingves, Governor of the Riksbank and Chairman of the Executive Board that leads the bank, is also a member of the ECB General Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements. The Executive Board, consisting of six members, is responsible for all the bank’s operations.

Business & Environment “Business for a sustainable future”

The Swedish economy is at present strong, but being small and open, it is vulnerable, therefore it is heavily influenced by movements in the global economy. The Riksbank has a strategic aim for international co-operation, in trying, within its means, to contribute to international monetary and financial stability. The bank regularly participates in around 130 international committees and working groups. Another example on international collaboration, is the bank’s bilateral contacts and discussions with central banks in other countries.

Since 1999, the Riksbank has been an independent authority under the Swedish Parliament. Now, it is considered one of the most open central banks in the world.

Thirty years ago, Göteborg was infamous throughout Sweden for its poor air quality and heavy congested roads, with industry and the city’s large harbour being major contributing factors. However, this reputation also served as a wake up call to many, and a conscious effort was initiated to implement rectification measures, including initiatives to improve the city’s air quality.

www.riksbank.se

n recent years, interest in environmental solutions from western Sweden has been on the rise with more and more countries, cities and regions keeping an eye on western Swedish environmental technology and the expertise that abounds in the region. Business & Environment is one of several business areas that Business Region Göteborg has singled out for special focus. Having begun in 1998, this focus has given us many years of experience working with sustainable business.

Today the city enforces a number of regulations, such as requiring all new residential buildings to be environmentally sound and energy efficient. Less than 10 per cent of households still use oil for heating due to a well-developed district heating system. The Port of Göteborg was among the first to provide shore-side electric power connections for ships docked in the harbour, and the city is leading the way when it comes to sustainable and efficient transport and logistics solutions. Göteborg and the Västra Götaland region boast the country’s best infrastructure with petrol filling stations - 40 in total, approximately 8,000 vehicles and nine plants producing bio-fuel for vehicles. Needless to say, these attributes are key in making the west more developed in terms of bio-fuel production and filling stations than anywhere else in Sweden. Developments in bio-fuels, coupled with an industry that is developing new technologies to reduce the impact on the environment, can accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. In addition to this, developments in concepts, expertise and solutions will have exciting global implications. “The region has strong driving forces, innovative and established companies, dedicated and involved politicians, and research and collaborative initiatives that put us far out on the forefront in many areas,” explains Maria Strömberg, Head of Business & Environment at Business Region Göteborg.

The Port of Göteborg was among the first to provide shore-side electric power connections for ships docked in the harbour. Business & Environment focuses on sustainable transportation and energy systems.We collaborate with interested parties both in the community and the business sector to identify and initiate demonstration and developmental projects.This facilitates the testing of new technologies and provides local references for export.The BiMe Trucks demo project, for example, will put 100 new liquid methane gas-powered Volvo trucks with new methane diesel engine technology onto the roads in spring 2011.The necessary, nation-wide infrastructure with liquid gas filling stations will be developed concurrently. Another example is Climate Smart City Distribution, a collaborative project between transportation companies, vehicle manufacturers, fuel suppliers and public organizations. The overall goal of this project is a 50 percent reduction of the climatic impact of distribution traffic within the city of Göteborg’s environmental zone (for the participating shipping company vehicle fleets).This objective will be realised in part through the introduction of energy-efficient vehicle technology, renewable fuels and new solutions for freight co-ordination and consolidated shipment.

T h e Po r t o f G ö t e b o r g Left to right: Printing of bank notes, ingots of gold and the Riksbank at Brunkebergstorg in Stockholm

S W E D I S H C O M PA N I E S

The Transport Network

Keolis exports customer satisfaction across the globe. T E X T: L ars N ordstrand

The passenger transport operator Keolis is becoming an increasingly large part of everyday life. With its recent establishment in Australia, USA and Norway, the operator is once more showing its strengths in passenger rail transport. New challenges are on the horizon.

he expertise demonstrated by Keolis ranges from the earliest phases of planning, together with authorities and all other stakeholders, right through to operations.These include: engineering assistance, organising the network during the construction work, integration of the operations without disrupting the network and driver training to name but a few. “Keolis is present in 12 countries all over the world. Originally a bus company, Keolis nowadays operates long distance and regional trains in Britain and in Germany as well as in the Netherlands and USA,” says Lars Nordstrand, chairman of the Scandinavian operation and development.

Quality, reliability and long-term profitability go before quick wins. Delivering an excellent service to passengers, and business relationship based on confidence and credibility are key. Keolis prefers to engage in business where conditions are transparent and where risks can be shared in a reasonable way. High ambitions and common targets are essential in being successful when entering into major projects.

“We are in fact number one in the world when it comes to tram operations and automatic metro operations.We are presently working in a number of new tram projects,” Lars is a former director of SL in Stockholm, the largest Public Transport Authority in the Nordic region. Furthermore, Lars is a key person in national projects aiming to increase the market share in public transportation. “The new legislation coming into force 2012 will give all the players in the market new opportunities to increase the market share of public transport,” he says.

We are in fact number one in the world when it comes to tram operations and automatic metro operations. 26

“Keolis’ target is to exceed the expectation of the passengers and attract new people to public transport.Therefore I’m very positive about the present development in public transport in Sweden in order to make it possible to double public transport patronage,” says Lars Nordstrand. “The plan to give suppliers greater responsibility and more opportunity to adapt the offer to passengers’ needs is a change that suits us at Keolis particularly well.” Even though international business is expanding quickly, Keolis still has its roots and a major part of its operations in France.The emerging market always attracts a great deal of great interest and based on extensive experience from Europe, Keolis wants to develop new solutions in new environments.

All solutions are local. Even if much experience and expertise can be moved between countries and applied in various environments, you must realize that the service you provide is an everyday service in local communities. Understanding regional and local cultures and traditions is necessary in order to win the respect of local stakeholders and users in order to attract people to your services. Normally Keolis expands its business by winning tenders. When entering into new markets we have sometimes preferred to do an acqusition of a local company in order to get an understanding of the local way of doing business.We also have relevant experience of PPP projects recently in Australia and Britain with positive results. In Sweden, Keolis is also the owner of a major bus company named Keolis Sverige.This service operates extensively in Stockholm and other greater cities in Sweden.We are proud to say that we achieve the highest score in bus passenger satisfaction in the capital area.

We know that our experience of operations and passenger perceptions play an important role when planning new transport infrastructure. Keolis has extensive expertise in planning and operating complex passenger transport systems. Metro and tram operations are expanding quickly in many countries with new projects constantly emerging. It is essential that the new infrastructure is designed to be sustainable, taking into account that what is being built in 2-3 years will be used by passengers and staff for a 60-70 year period.The experience of passengers, and operators and their staff must be used in designing the infrastructure.This is too often neglected and leads to unnecessary costs and disruptions.

Keolis employs more 47,000 people. In 2010 the group generated revenues of more than 4.1 million Euros with an increase of more than 20% both in revenue and profitability.

Foto: Daniel Wester

Lars Wallin and Carpe Diem Beds have through a unique cooperation in bed- and bedroom textile design created an extravagant collection of beds and bedtime accessories. The two strong brands are intimately associated with innovative design and are constantly stretching the boundaries. Now we would like to share this sophisticated dream-like luxury with you. Find your nearest retailer on www.carpediembeds.com

Carpe Diem Beds of Sweden’s collection of hand produced contemporary bed mattress furniture defines the mood and décor of any room that it graces. Our beds exude luxury and soothe your body with a comfort that only Carpe Diem can deliver. Bold designs, product innovations and finely tuned comfort are all qualities delivered with every investment made in one of the world’s most exclusive brands for rejuvenation through superior sleep. Locate the nearest retailer to you on our website. WWW.CARPEDIEMBEDS.COM

SWEDISH ORGANISATIONS

Protecting Children against Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. You can make a difference! T E X T: E C PAT S verige

The bodies of children are bought and sold in a global market where universal demand governs supply and price. For the right fee, you can request your preferences in regards to the qualities of the “goods”; such as age, appearance and gender of the child.

he sex buyers provide capital in order to engage in heinous crimes with children.The market forces command the commercial sexual exploitation of children, i.e. child pornography, child sex tourism and trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Everyone can make a difference.When next choosing a travel agent, Internet service provider or a bank, opt for ones working against commercial sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT Sweden was established as a non-profit organisation in 1996.The organisation is part of ECPAT International, a global network. It is present in more than 85 countries and strives for the elimination of commercial sexual exploitation of children. The focus of ECPAT Sweden is to highlight and stem demand. The latter of which is the engine of the global commerce of children for sexual purposes.We also fight the profitability this illegal business brings to a myriad of criminals and criminal organisations. For this reason ECPAT Sweden has established many fruitful relationships with the private sector over the years.

Examples of notable achievements developed by ECPAT Sweden include the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. This is now implemented by the tourism industries in over 40 countries worldwide. In addition to this, in 2005, we initiated a collaboration between the National Police and all the major Internet service providers in order to block child abusive material on the Internet.To make it harder to use the financial systems, ECPAT further initiated the process to form a financial coalition against child pornography in Sweden.This financial coalition is now in operation and is in collaboration with the majority of banks. Years of experience in working with the private sector on social responsibility was the reason why ECPAT became part of the global process of forming ISO 26,000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility. The standard is for voluntary use and it attempts to guide users, companies as well as organisations towards increased social responsibility. The main strengths of the standard include a definition of social responsibility as being held accountable for your impact on society and environment.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE... There are many ways for individuals and companies as well as organisations to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Next time you travel, choose to travel with a company that has signed the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. For further information on how you can make a difference please visit:

When next choosing a travel agent, Internet service provider or a bank, opt for ones working against commercial sexual exploitation of children. 30

www.ecpat.se, www.ecpathotline.se www.thecode.org ECPAT International’s web page www.ecpat.net

You can make a difference! Report suspicious child sexual abuse materials on the Internet directly to the police or ECPAT Hotline, www.ecpathotline.se You can also report trafficking of children for sexual purposes as well as child sex tourism. In case of emergency always report directly to the police.

SWEDISH ORGANISATIONS

SWEA Networking Swedish women all over the globe T E X T: C hristina L inderoth - O lson P H O T O : E lisabeth A lsheimer , V ice - P resident o f S W E A I nternational . C ourtesy o f Kerstin A lm

With around 8,000 members, the ever-growing SWEA is the largest organization promoting Swedish culture outside of Sweden.

n 1979, Agneta Nilsson, a Swedish lady of entrepreneurial spirit living in Los Angeles, recognized the need of a network where fellow sisters in California could speak their native language and conserve Swedish traditions. She founded SWEA – Swedish Women’s Educational Association Inc, for female ex-patriots. “The organization aims to promote the Swedish language, culture and traditions. SWEA is not only a meeting place, but also a safety net, where local SWEA chapters all over the world help newly arrived in practical matters, such as advice on schooling. We can also provide support when members return home,” says Elisabeth Alsheimer,Vice-President of SWEA International. SWEA is a global non-profit organization. To qualify as a member, you must live, or have lived, outside of Sweden for at least a year. In 2011, SWEA has around 8,000 members in 74 local chapters in 35 countries on five continents. Elisabeth Alsheimer became a member in 2001, living in Boston at the time. She has since moved back to Sweden, and is now Director of the Museum and Art Center in Dunkerska Kulturhuset in Helsingborg. ”The local chapters programmes include company visits, After Work and lunches for members.They also arrange traditional Swedish festivities for both members and locals. Swedish Yuletide is a big event all over USA, as well as in London and several other places, focusing on Swedish Christmas traditions. Midsummer is another important tradition, the celebration in Battery Park in New York, attracts a huge crowd. SWEA frequently arranges events together with the Swedish embassies, Swedish companies and schools,” continues Elisabeth Alsheimer.

In March 2011, the SWEA World Forum took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In a few years time, Asia will probably become an increasingly important SWEA region.

Every year, SWEA supports projects and awards scholarships connected with the Swedish language and culture for over 3 million SEK. An example of this is SWEA Denver’s donation to the Viking Symposium at the University of Colorado. Another, more high profile example is SWEA’s financing of the restoration of the epitaph on Queen Christina’s sarcophagus in St Peters basilica in Rome. The organization awards scholarships to international graduate students enrolled in the Swedish language programme at universities around the world. An intercultural grant and a grant focusing on music are examples of others.

The organization aims to promote the Swedish language, culture and traditions The Swedish Woman of the Year award recognizes important achievements. In 2010, opera singer Kerstin Dellert, Artistic Director of Sweden’s oldest Rococo theatre, was awarded this honour. “Today, an increasing number of members are career women in their own right and they move abroad on their own strength, which makes the professional use of the network even more important,” adds Elisabeth Alsheimer. www.swea.org 33

C U LT U R E

Lust & Vice at Nationalmuseum T E X T: C hristina L inderoth - O lson P H O T O S : N ationalmuseum , S toc k holm

The exhibition that takes the visitor on a journey through art’s sexual and erotic past.

his Spring, visitors to Nationalmuseum in Stockholm will be challenged to reflect on issues such as sex, morality and virtue. Lust & Vice presents around 250 items (paintings and works of art), spanning from the 16th century to the present day. Although most of them belong to the museums fabulous collections, items such as an authentic chastity belt can be found among loan exhibits from other institutions. In several themes, the exhibition exemplifies how virtue and vice have been depicted through the ages. It also raises the question: how do we feel when we are confronted with these paintings and objects today? What is vice and what is virtue in the eyes of 21st century visitors? The church was once a powerful institution that dictated what was morally acceptable. Nudity in art was only allowed in mythological scenes, which is why scenes of naked gods and goddesses were so popular.

Adolf Ulrik W ertmüller: Danaë and the shower o f gold.

Lust is exemplified in 17th,18th and 19th century paintings of opulent women showing their behinds

Lust & Vice 24th March – 14th August

You will find Nationalmuseum on Blasieholmen in central Stockholm, near Grand Hotel. www.nationalmuseum.se

“Lust is exemplified in 17th, 18th and 19th century paintings of opulent women showing their behinds. At this time, naked bottoms were considered highly erotic. Sex was morally accepted only between married couples, and then intercourse required eye contact. This exhibition room also features the sensuality of human hair in images of elaborate coiffures,” says exhibition curator Ulf Cederlöf.

Clandestine erotic art with pornographic undertones, innocent in the eyes of modern beholders, were displayed in exclusive male gatherings. One example is Meyten’s The Nun, commissioned by Carl Gustaf Tessin, an immensely wealthy 18th century collector, depicting a chaste nun, who reveals her naked bottom on the back of the image.

Another room visualises the city and the public domain. Prostitution prevailed, especially in the industrial era. Actresses and ballet dancers were the legitimate prey of the aristocracy and wealthy men. Such was the hypocrisy of morality in the 19th century that there were many cases of the male genitals on ancient marble statues being concealed with fig leaves.

“The Swedish 18th century artist Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller, who portraited Marie-Antoinette and her children in Versailles, emigrated to the US and brought with him the painting Danaë and the shower of gold. He staged an installation with the painting and a mirror, making a lot of money on curious American visitors paying entrance fees,” recalls Ulf Cederlöf.

“The question of fig leaves were hotly debated in 19th century Sweden, when all museums had plaster copies of classic antique statues. Deputees were sent to museums in other European countries to study how fig leaves were handled, and they submitted reports on their return,” says Ulf Cederlöf.

Examples of art on show are paintings by Fragonard, Boucher, Wertmüller, Cranach, Sergel, Frans Floris, and contemporary Swedish artists, for example Lars Nilsson and Sara-Vide Ericson. Paedophilic and sadistic art have more or less been excluded in this show.

Phone +46 8 5195 4410, 5195 43 00. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday.

T he Flemish artist Frans Floris ’ painting M ars and V enus ( 1 6 th century ) .

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Taj Mahal Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Photo: Veni Photo: Veni

Photo: Veni

IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is an independant research organisation that has been involved since 1966 in the development of solutions to environmental problems on behalf of the business sector and the community. IVL has offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, and Bejing. www.ivl.se

IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is an independant research organisation that has been involved since 1966 in the development of solutions to IVL Swedish Environmental Research is an research organisation that Gothenburg, has been involved 1966 in the development of soluti environmental problems on behalf of the businessInstitute sector and theindependant community. IVL has offices in Stockholm, Malmö,since and Bejing. www.ivl.se

environmental problems on behalf of the business sector and the community. IVL has offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, and Bejing. www.ivl

ENVIRONMENT

Next Generation steps up to future water challenges T E X T: J O S H U A PA G L I A

Stockholm Junior Water Prize brings together bright minds from over 30 nations.

Eight years later, her fellow American Joyce Chai, showed that silver nanoparticles, which are invisible and ubiquitous in modern consumer products, may not be as safe for the environment as previously thought. Last year, a pair of young Canadian scientists developed a novel approach to confront a form of pollution everyone sees on a regular basis: plastic. While unsightly, this litter has an effect on the environment that is less obvious to the eye. It releases toxins that harm valuable ecosystems, which now can be reduced with cheap and readily available enzymes. Some past winners have found inspiration in some unlikely places. Ingenious teams from Mexico, Sweden, Spain, Germany, China and Japan have shown how to clean water and protect marine environments with everything from oysters to eggshells.

n 2030, nearly half of the world’s population will be living in areas facing high water stress. In the same timeframe, cities will have to grow to accommodate over one and a half billion new residents. As always, the challenges inherited by the next generation of leaders will be more intense, intricate and extensive than ever before.

Ceren Burçak Dag of Turkey knows that climate change will lead to shifts in rainfall, which will mean more droughts and floods throughout her life. But when she looked to the clouds, she saw something else: the potential to generate clean, renewable energy with each drop that falls. Claire Reed from South Africa also helped people prepare for potential supply shortages by creating a water efficient gardening technique that uses paper strips to plant seeds and prevent the loss of soil moisture. All of their solutions are cost-efficient, immediate, and applicable the world over. This year, a new set of finalists will congregate in Stockholm to showcase and discuss their ideas on how to shape a more “water astute” planet. It’s worth a listen.

National competitions are held annually in Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Canada, Chile, China, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Turkey, United, Kingdom, Ukraine, USA,Vietnam. The list of participating countries increases every year and the organisers welcome new nations to become involved by hosting a national competition. Visit www.siwi.org/stockholmjuniorwaterprize to learn how to add your country to the list.

Alexandre Allard and Danny Luong of Canada receiving the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize from the hands of H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden for their insights on how to combat toxic pollutants that seep out of waste plastic.

The incredible innovations of past Stockholm Junior Water Prize winners create a compelling case in showing they are up to the task. For the 15th year, some of the world’s brightest young minds will congregate in the Swedish capital to take part in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. Each year, thousands of participants in over 30 countries join national contests for the chance to represent their nation at the international final held during World Water Week. Amid their time in Stockholm, winners of the national competitions will have a chance to meet and learn from the present leaders of the global water community and build, potentially life-long relationships with their international peers, who share a passion for water and science. The international winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize receives a $5,000 US award and a prize sculpture. The Prize is sponsored globally by the ITT Corporation and is administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute.

This includes a once-in-a-lifetime chance to receive the international prize from H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, during an exciting ceremony, which will be held this year on Tuesday August 23rd. Attaining the top honor is no elementary feat. An international jury composed of world leading scientists carefully analyzes each project as well as interviewing the finalists to evaluate their potential to improve the global water situation. Not that the students, all between the ages of 15 and 20, will be at all intimidated. In fact, their ingenuity has already highlighted new threats and potential solutions unknown to the scientific community. Back in 2000, Ashley Mulroy from the USA pointed out the dangers of undetected contamination from antibiotics in water systems. E a c h y e a r, w i n n e r s o f n a t i o n a l c o n t e s t s i n o v e r 3 0 c o u n t r i e s m e e t i n S t o c k h o l m f o r a c h a n c e t o c o m p e t e f o r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Stockholm Junior Water Prize during the World Water Week in Stockholm.

C U LT U R E

Uncover the Underground Culture T E X T: P etra E ri k sson , E ric S ahlström I nstitutet P H O T O S : B jörn L ind f ors

It’s Saturday night in the beginning of February. The snow is dancing in a whirlwind about the houses in the central part of Stockholm. My friend Lisa and I get off bus number 76 at Kungsträdgården.

t’s Saturday night in the beginning of February. The snow is dancing in a whirlwind about the houses in the central part of Stockholm. My friend Lisa and I get off bus number 76 at Kungsträdgården. With excitement and expectation we hurry in to a cobbled back yard. The music drifts out to us from the steamy windows, through which we see a blur of people in a swirling stream of dance. As we enter the room there is heat and energy. On stage three young girls are playing fiddle with captivating intensity. Below them, people are dancing in couples, a lively and playful dance. They dance around each other, but also around the room. The music pulsates, pulling us towards the dance floor. To be part of a dance night, when the music is right and the joy and energy is high, is an experience I have had for many years. Still it is hard to explain and something that has to be experienced for oneself. For me this union of dancers and musicians is the essence of Swedish folk music and dance. It is a genre that holds both tradition and creativeness. A culture where contrasts between young and old, and social gathering versus art creates exiting encounters.

What we in Sweden call Swedish folk music and dance has been part of the Swedish culture for centuries. But as in all cultures, it has been developed and adapted to the changes that occur in as societies evolve. Influences from other countries, personal impact, new instruments but also practical conditions like the size of the room have all had an affect on the music and dance’s characteristics and objectives. Due to this, the genre consists of many different subcultures today. Folk music and dance is very much alive all over Sweden, as a form of social interaction as well as a profession. Today the regeneration of the genre among youngsters is going strong due to several years of successful youth-projects. There are more Swedish professional artists in this genre than ever before, especially musicians, which is a result of several bigger educational investments at University level during the past thirty years. The vast majority, however, are amateurs who play and dance in social gatherings for their own pleasure. The eclectic environment where beginners, professionals, young and old mingle and meet through music and dance is a very important part of this genre.

Where can you find Swedish folk music and folk dance?

Most musicians who play Swedish folk music practice the traditional instruments - fiddle or nyckelharpa, but nowadays you will also hear a lot of other instruments at festivals. The type of music and dances that are most common at these festivals are couple dances and what is commonly called “polska”. This is a type of tune and dance that goes in a three beat rhythm and has been part of Swedish culture since the 1700’s. Depending on for instance, how old it is, from which geographical area it comes from and of course how the music is played, the tunes sound different. The dances harmonize with the music and are also different depending on the same factors. Other common dances and types of tunes are “schottis”, “waltz” and “polka”. Compared to others, the folk music and dance genre is relatively hidden. Not only is it scarcely publicised in the media, it takes place in hidden environments and consequently it can be hard for people to find if not already initiated in the folk scene.You usually find dance and jam sessions at private parties, small festivals (so called ”stämmor”), which mostly take place in the countryside. It is therefore not so likely that you’ll to run into it.You can however, find dance nights and sessions in the cities, if you know where to look. What happened at the dance night my friend Lisa and I went to? After four hours of energetic dancing, it was time to go. With sweaty, happy faces, people moved on to the pub. Others, like myself went home and back to a busy everyday life, but with a newly discovered vigor and longing for the next occasion!

I would like to encourage you not to just watch a folk dance performance. Full participation is key to experience this culture in it’s entirety. Come and visit a social gathering with music and dance like the one I described and share in the music, dance and joy! On the following web pages you can read about “dance nights” and festivals where the folk music and dance can be experienced live. Most of the events also have dance workshops and jam sessions where you can participate. Stallet Stallet arranges dance nights and concerts within the folk music scene during Autumn, Winter and Spring in Stockholm. www.stallet.st Skeppis An organisation that arranges dance and music sessions every Sunday at Skeppsholmen, Stockholm. They also provide free workshops. www.folkmusikhuset.se Linköpings folkmusikfestival festival.folkmusik.nu Umefolk, folkmusikfestival i Umeå. www.umeafolkmusik.se/umefolk Hovrastämman www.hovra.com/hovrastamman During the Summer, there are a lot of festivals or stämmor with music and dance day and night. Ransäterstämman, Ransäter Värmland. www.ransatersstamman.se Bingsjöstämman, Bingsjö Dalarna. www.folkmusikenshus.se/bingsjo Korröfestivalen, Korrö Småland www.korrofestivalen.se

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SWEDISH REGIONS

Kosterhavet

Sweden’s first marine national park T E X T: C hristina L inderoth - O lson P H O T O S : A nders T ys k lind ( U rsholmens lighthouse ) , T omas L und ä lv and L isbeth J onsson ( C old water corals A N D R ed S ea U rchin

“The creation of the marine national park marks a fine balance between protecting the biological eco system, maintaining the area as an attractive place to visit, as well as safe-guarding the local fishing industry focusing on shrimps and lobsters,” says Anders Tysklind, Director of the Marine National Park. Located in the spectacular Bohuslän archipelago, the new national park is surrounded by Kosteröarna (the Koster Islets), two hours north of Göteborg on Sweden’s west coast.The protected zone covers 400 square kilometres, where 390 of those are below sea level.The area includes some 6000 marine species, of which 200 do not exist anywhere else in Sweden.

Above the waves you may encounter seals on the cliffs, there is a rich ornithological presence and entomologists often find species as interesting as they are diverse. “Parts of Kosterhavet, for example Kosterfjorden, are 247 metres deep. Kosterfjorden is affected by the Atlantic Ocean, which results in an oceanic climate with a low temperature and a high degree of salinity. Here you will find cold water corals, brachiops and sponges that normally do not exist in Swedish waters,” continues Anders Tysklind. Advanced divers may explore the coral reefs and experience Kosterfjorden’s fascinating underwater world. Snorkelling paths at Sydkoster and Saltö offer any reasonably good swimmer a similar experience.The area is popular in Summer time, attracting around 90,000 visitors annually. Several visitors’ entrances are currently under construction, the first one will open in Rossö hamn (harbour) in

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Feel like a boat trip? A 45 minute ferry ride from the popular seaside town Strömstad will take you to Sweden’s very first marine national park. ounded in Kosterhavet in 2009, and working closely with it’s Norwegian “sister park” Ytre Hvaler, Sweden’s first maritime national park strives to protect the area’s unique marine environment.

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May, housing an exhibition on Kosterhavet. In addition to this a large Visitors’ Centre has been planned.There are restaurants at Koster, Resö and Rossön, if you don’t prefer to buy some shrimp for a picnic. The University of Gothenburg also operates a research station within the national park at Tjärnö.This state of the art facility is dedicated to both marine biology and ecology.

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“In Spring, early Summer, and Autumn, visitors meet the stillness and serenity of the archipelago. July is the tourist season’s busiest month when many Swedes take their vacations.Those who want some time away from the crowd can visit Ursholmen’s lighthouse for a day’s contemplation and meditation near the sea,” concludes Anders Tysklind. www.kosterhavet.se www.vastsverige.com/kosterhavet

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THE SEASON

Sailing: A nation’s obsession T E X T: E lizabeth D acey- Fondelius

Boating season in Sweden may be limited by the brevity of the country’s summer, but for over a quarter of all Swedes it’s just not summer without a boat.

wedes have long been called to the freedom that the open water offers. The 881,000 recreational boats the Swedish Transport Authority estimates bob around in the country’s water is true testament to the nation’s love of the ocean. Add to this the warmth and glow a Swedish summer’s day offers and its no surprise that roughly 2.5 million Swedes take to the water each year. Most of the fore mentioned vessels either transport people on day trips, when the weather is grand and shading ones eyes from the glare off the water is the day’s biggest responsibility, or bring them to secretive fishing coves in hopes of landing that fish to brag about over a beer that evening. Boating in Sweden is an every man activity and not a statement on one’s social standing. In fact, most boat owners belong to boating clubs or associations that own and/or manage their own docks, boat slips and wharves. It is the members who communally share the responsibilities to launch and lift boats in the spring and autumn. As a result, the annual cost to harbor a boat is never prohibitive and can be as low as a few hundred kronor for a rowing boat in the countryside and rarely more than several thousand kronor for a slip.

However, throwing money into the sea on a boat is not unknown in Sweden either. For some, the option of a marina is more appealing since there are no membership duties, launching or pulling out other people’s boats, painting the club house or doing a night’s watch. In addition to the basic costs to buy and dock a boat, there are many other costs involved in maintaining the maritime mood. A day trip out on a motor boat can set back the owner a few thousand kronor in petrol as they are rather thirsty. And just when you think that a sailboat might be a more economically friendly option it is important to remember that there is no shortage of interest among enthusiastic boat owners to part with hard earned income on boat paraphernalia, parts and other marine gizmos, gadgets and knick-knacks. Nevertheless, sailing in the summer, especially in the archipelagos of Stockholm and the west coast is regarded by some Swedes as a birth-right. For many more sailboat enthusiasts it is their primary summer holiday. This is very much the cultural norm along both coasts of Sweden. An adventurer will remind us of the Swedes’ Viking heritage, a historian will call attention to the Hanseatic age of trade in Europe and a romantic will make our hearts swoon with tales of the Swede’s love of nature. Whichever the sort, class or budget of a boat in Sweden, it’s irrefutable that there is something inextricable about pleasure boats, Swedes and summer.

TRAVEL

Båstad, Torekov and the Bjäre Peninsula

Places to stay:

The greatest attraction of the Bjäre peninsula is the beautiful scenery, the coast, and the forests.

Hotel Skansen Hotel Skansen is a Båstad classic, well placed near the harbour and the tennis courts. Through the years, the spacious hotel has been expanded and modernised, it also now offers a spa. Kallbadhuset - a beach house with a sauna built on the bottom of the sea, Restaurang Sand, and a top class conference centre with 20 conference rooms. www.hotelskansen.se

With breathtaking views, great food and hospitality, and innumerable places of interest on offer, this part of Sweden really is a jewel to be discovered.

Torekov Hotell If you want some peace and quiet, Torekov Hotell, is a good choice. The hotel was erected in 1980 but has since then been renovated and modernised. It is surrounded by nature, situated near the sea and the golf course. Torekov Hotell houses a spa, conference rooms and a first class restaurant. www.torekovhotell.se

And to visit: Hovs Hallar A three kilometre advanced hiking trail with a 70 metre climb. Hovs Hallar is a dramatic place with broken precipices, cave-like formations, sea-stacks and a shingle beach. www.hovshallar.com T E X T: C hristina L inderoth - O lson P H O T O : H otel S k ansen , sydpol . com , courtesy o f G unnar M agnusson

järehalvön, the Bjäre peninsula, is one of the most beautiful places in Sweden. Situated on the west coast in the southern province of Skåne, it offers a combination of picture postcard views, sloping meadows and spectacular cliffs. The charming communities, Båstad and Torekov, are two of Sweden’s most popular seaside resorts, attracting an influx of tourists every Summer. “There are many international visitors in Båstad, mainly from Denmark, Germany, France, Norway, Great Britain and the Netherlands. Most of them travel around in Skåne for a few days. The greatest attraction of the Bjäre peninsula is the beautiful scenery, the coast, and the forests. There are several good golf courses, we can also offer high class cultural events and interesting art galleries,” says Karin Bengtsson, Deputy Manager of Båstad Turism.

Both communities serve as a place to meet for wellknown Swedish business people on holiday, many of whom have summer houses in the region. Båstad is a lively place with a hectic night-life. Swedish tennis has a glorious history in Båstad also, where the central court has seen stars of the game such as Björn Borg, Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, as well as many top international players. The town hosts an international tennis tournament every July. Torekov, the smaller and quiter of the two, is a picturesque place featuring narrow streets and low houses, typical of this part of the country. At the heart of Torekov is the harbour, where early birds meet for a morning swim.

Halland’s Väderö On this small islet, visitors will find many rare and threatened species; a perfect place for an excursion with a picnic. www.hallandsvadero.se The Birgit Nilsson Museum The celebrated opera singer’s childhood home has been transformed into a museum, staging memories from her long career. A new exhibition, Birgit Nilsson – a Star in the World, will open this Summer. www.birgitnilsson.com Märta Måås-Fjetterström Märta Måås-Fjetterström (1873-1941) was one of Sweden’s greatest textile artists. Her designs for rugs and woven textiles, as well as those of her successor Barbro Nilsson and other textile designers, are still produced entirely by hand.Visit the work-shop and show room in Båstad. www.mmf.se

ENVIRONMENT

World Water Week

Stockholm Water Prize Honors Heroes for People and the Planet

The Stockholm Water Prize is a global award founded in 1991 and presented annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute to an individual, organisation or institution for outstanding w a t e r- r e l a t e d a c t i v i t i e s . T h e S t o c k h o l m Water Prize winner receives $150,000 US and a crystal sculpture specially designed and created by Orrefors.

The prize was founded by companies both Swedish and international in collaboration with the City of Stockholm. They are: Bacardi, Borealis & Borouge, D u Po n t , E u r o p e i s k a I n s u r a n c e , Fu j i t s u , G r u n d f o s M a n a g e m e n t , H e w l e t t Pa c k a r d , I T T W a t e r & W a s t e w a t e r, K e m i r a , K P M G S w e d e n , L ä c k e b y W a t e r, P & G , Ragn-Sells, Saab Automobile AB, Scandic, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Siemens AG, SJ (Swedish R a i l w a y s ) , S n e c m a / S a f r a n , U p o n o r, W a t e r E n v i r o n m e n t Fe d e r a t i o n a n d Ålandsbanken Sverige.

T E X T: J oshua Paglia

Leading American Ecologist to be awarded at 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm

tockholm prides itself as the “City on Water”.Whether a first time tourist, or third generation Stockholmare, the city’s majestic views of Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea make the moniker easy to appreciate. Nevertheless, Sweden’s capital is not only internationally renowned for its beauty on water.World Water Week is an internationally renowned annual event for global leaders, business innovators, scientists and development professionals in this field. An important part of this event is the announcement and award of one of the field’s highest honors. For over 20 years, the Stockholm Water Prize has recognized those whose lifework has contributed broadly to the protection of water resources and improved health of people and the planet; their work is serious. The World Health Organization states that water, sanitation and hygiene related illnesses account for one tenth of the global disease burden, and take over 3 million lives each year. Past winners of the prize, such as Prof. Rita Colwell, have made scientific breakthroughs that have slowed the outbreak of infectious diseases, such as cholera, and helped save countless lives. Others, including Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh International and the organization Wateraid, have helped provide millions of people with safe sanitation and create opportunities for them to live healthier and happier lives.

Quite simply, each of the Stockholm Water Prize laureates have been integral in helping to make the world a better place and ensure it will be habitable in the future. This year’s laureate, Prof. Stephen R. Carpenter of the University of WisconsinMadison, USA, is no exception. As one of the world’s most influential ecologists, he has helped define our current knowledge on the dynamics of freshwater environments. He has pioneered our understanding of how the food chain links together in aquatic habitats, which has formed the basis for definitive solutions on how to manage lakes. His research on tropic cascades, for example, has shown how depletion of one species of fish or plant can reverberate throughout the entire ecosystem.

The Stockholm Water Prize Laureate is announced every March in connection w i t h t h e U N W o r l d W a t e r D a y. I t i s presented at a Royal Prize Ceremony and Banquet in the Stockholm City Hall during the annual World Water Week in Stockholm.

His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will present the prize to Professor Carpenter at a royal award ceremony during the 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm on the 25th of August. “The prize will increase my resolve and sense of obligation to work on emerging issues of freshwater, such as climate change and the connections of food and water security,” declares Professor Carpenter. This a good thing because the relevance of that mission will only grow in its importance, impact and urgency.

The Water Resources Group estimates that by 2030, demand for water resources will outpace available supply by 40 percent. While most experts maintain that there is enough water available to sustain expanding populations and economies, they insist it will require more wisely managed resources and that we learn to balance the needs for human use with the environment. Luckily, Prof. Carpenter, together with the former and future Stockholm Water Prize laureates, will be among the minds leading the way.

Learn about the incredible work of all 21 Stockholm Water Prize winners at: www.siwi.org/stockholmwaterprize.

Want to learn more about water issues in Stockholm? Visit www.worldwaterweek.org to see how you can get involved.

C U LT U R E

The Vasa Warship 50 years above the waves T E X T: E lizabeth D acey- Fondelius

he Vasa Museum, always abuzz with eager tourists, will have several exhibitions on display in order to mark this milestone. Who was aboard the Vasa that fated day of her maiden voyage in August 1628? How was she discovered and salvaged 50 years ago? The answers to these questions and the awe of the magnificent warship are what await the visitor. The Vasa ship, emerging from beneath the waves in April 1961, had endured a 33-year unceremonious interlude waiting silently stagnant.The grand old dame, a bit worse for wear, was painstakingly restored to 95% of her original glory.The brackish waters of Stockholm Harbour meant there were shipworms to devour her antique beams. Ironically, her preserved state is also thanks to the sheer pollution accumulated in the harbour during the majority of those three centuries. Resting in heavy sludge nearly completely devoid of oxygen, very little could survive to eat away at the ship.

50 years on,Vasa is now a celebrity in her own right having been viewed by more than 30 million tourists, maritime enthusiasts, and the like.The museum now averages more than a million visitors annually. The original museum building, completed and occupied in 1988, was designed to accommodate roughly just 600,000 annually. This year The Vasa Museum will extend it’s structure to make for a more comfortable visiting experience, even during peak season. It was less than a decade ago that the fate of the Vasa lay in a perilous balance.The ship’s oxygen free bed of sediment, which once offered good fortune, quite surreptitiously began a stealthy attack on the Vasa, this time from within.The sludge, containing high levels of sulphur, deposited large amounts of the allotropic element into the wood.While not threatening on it’s own, once reacted with iron ore, readily available in the more than 5000 bolts used to reassemble the ship, sulphuric acid is created.This silent menace went on unnoticed for decades, and had a very wet summer in 2001 not prevented the acceleration of the process, it might have been too late when it was eventually discovered. A newly designed ventilation system has now been installed to maintain the temperature and humidity at constant levels, this keeps the majority of problems in check. Another measure initiated this year to mark the 50th anniversary is the arduous task to replace the 5000 plus iron bolts with ones of a non-corrosive metal.The new bolts will also lighten the hull solving another minor, but over the fullness of time major problem for the antiquated vessel. Vasa surfaced from what was likely her eternal doom to emerge 50 years on more spectacular. An international superstar loved and adored by millions the world over, her future is bright and it is likely she shall be even more glorious when she commemorates her 100th jubilee in 2061.We shall all be with her in spirit if not in person.

Photo: Jonas Kjellstrand

This summer season, Sweden’s most recognizable archaeological asset, the 17th century Vasa Warship, celebrates her 50th anniversary of rising from the shallows of Stockholm’s inner harbour.

i n r e a t n Urb a W ani s i n g Wo r l d Cities are hotspots for both demographic and economic growth, but increasingly also for social as well as climate related risks. Wise water management will play a pivotal role in shaping a positive development for present and future urban citizens.

Join other global minds at the World Water Week in Stockholm, August 21-27, 2011, and be at the forefront of developing future cities.

www.worldwaterweek.org

LIFESTYLE

Swedish Fashion: A Success Story T E X T: C hristina L inderoth - O lson P H O T O S : R oo k ies C ollection J ose f in S trid © H enri k B engtsson _ I maginara ( M A I N I M A G E ) H & M S pring – S ummer 2 0 1 1 , H asse N ielsen ( R ight )

The Swedish Fashion trade includes major international companies, celebrated designers and exciting rookies.

ew people have failed to notice H & M, one of Sweden’s largest and most successful companies, expanding all over the world. But the Swedish fashion industry includes other companies worthy of interest, despite not being able to compare with H & M in size.

In 2010, the export on Swedish clothes was 11.3 million SEK, a 10 percent increase compared with 2009.The statistics only refer to products manufactured in Sweden or clothing that has crossed the border before being exported to other countries. Nowadays however, fashion is more about design and creativity than actual production. In 2009, the fashion trade established a joint organisation, ASFB – The Association of Swedish Fashion Brands, with the idea that co-operation will ensure a continued success. “The Swedish fashion business is complex, including chains, such as H & M, Kapp Ahl and Lindex, designer companies, for example Filippa K, Acne and Odd Molly, and small businesses who have found their niches.The fashion industry has recovered from the financial crises, and today the business is booming,” says Lotta Ahlvar, Managing Director of The Swedish Fashion Council (Svenska Moderådet), a collaborative forum for the Swedish fashion and textile markets. Stockholm Fashion Week, including trade fairs, fashion shows and events, is arranged four times a year for press, retailers and buyers. It has become increasingly important, and some of the Fashion Week’s events are open to the public. An example of these events is the election of Rookie candidates, new fashion brands with young designers, who are the stars of tomorrow. Each year, the Swedish Fashion Council chooses twelve rookies who they observe and promote in the months that follow. Five finalists are elected in February, one of them will be awarded the title “Rookie of the Year” in August.

“The Swedish fashion companies are known as early adapters, with a high fashion sense.They are dependable and deliver easy to wear, trendy clothes on time.There are two problems facing the international fashion business – rising cotton prices and increasing costs of transportation.The Swedish fashion trade is known for being concerned with environmental and social issues, perhaps the rising costs will lead to the use of new materials,” reflects Lotta Ahlvar. The Swedish Government takes a keen interest in cultural, artistic and creative trades, and it has consequently put 73 million SEK into projects promoting entrepreneurship in design, fashion and other artistic and creative areas between 2009 and 2012.

In 2010, the export on Swedish clothes was 11.3 million SEK, a 10 percent increase compared with 2009. 55

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C U LT U R E

Susanne Bier: Making A Better World T E X T: M oira S ullivan P H O T O : P er A rnesen , C ourtesy o f S ony P ictures C lassics . From left to right: Ulrich Thomsen as Claus and W illiam Jøhnk Nielsen as Christian

s it is said in Swedish, prisregn or “prize rain”, descended on Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier and her DanishSwedish co-production– In A Better World. The story was a nomination at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes this year for best foreign language film and was nominated for best film at the Danish national film awards. The clue to Bier’s international appeal is her choice of intimate, and at times uncomfortable, subjects that she scrutinises in a warm and proficient way. Such is the case with In A Better World, based on a story by Anders Thomas Jensen, the screenwriter behind several of Bier’s films. Susanne Bier has directed other acclaimed films in Sweden such as Once in a Lifetime (Livet är en Schlager, 2001) about the beloved (folkkär) annual “Schlager” Melody Competition telecast in Sweden. Pensionat Oskar (Like It Never was Before, 1995) is about a summer holiday for a family that is irrevocably changed when the father becomes attracted to a young man who works at the boarding house. Open Hearts was the best Danish film of 2001, a film about a young woman whose boyfriend is paralysed in a car accident. She then falls in love with the husband of the woman driving. The film qualified as a “Dogme” film (telling a story without special effects or technology), the criteria for which was set in 1995 by Danish director Lars Von Trier. In A Better World begins in an anonymous African country. The Swedish doctor Anton (played by Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt) throws a soccer ball to a group of children who trail his medical 4-wheel drive. Shortly after, a young girl is brought into the field hospital. She has been cut open by bandits in attempts to confirm bets placed on which sex her unborn infant will be. 58

The setting then switches to Denmark and we see very little of Africa in the remainder of the film. A young boy attends a funeral for his mother who has died of cancer. He reads excerpts from a story by Danish author Hans Christian Anderson, “The Nightingale”, a fairy tale his mother used to read to him as a boy. Young Christian (William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen) has already turned into a man (lilgammal). During this difficult time he rejects the comfort of his father, Claus (Ulrich Thomsen), largely due to his absence as a result of working away in London.They move back to Denmark to his grandmother’s house where he is set to attend a new school. On the first day he is seated next to a boy who is bullied by some of his classmates for, among other things, being half Swedish. His teacher’s claim his problems in school might be because his father is often away and because his parents are separating.The boy is Anton’s son, Elias (Markus Rygaard).The two young outsiders soon become friends and bond, uniting against the bullies. A recurring theme in Swedish films is about how children become guides for their parents and elders. A boy cares for his alcoholic father in Min Stor Tjocke Far (My Big Fat Daddy, 1992) a film by Kjell-Åke Andersson, as does a fatherless boy whose mother is dying in Lasse Hallström’s Mitt Liv som Hund (My Life as a Dog, 1985). Both of these boys are lilgamma, like Christian - the catalyst In a Better World. He is such because he sets in motion a series of incidents in which not only Elias but also both of their fathers must learn to come to terms with injustice at home and in the world. The title of the Danish and Swedish version of the film Hævnen/Hämnden (“Revenge”), better describes the film’s theme of taking a stance against bullies.

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Kemwell – 100% Contract Manufacturing, Development Services, Packaging and Distribution Globally

Hide and Seek - The Swedish Summer If you are planning to invade Sweden, July is the time to do it. The lights might be on 24/7 above the Arctic Circle but there’s no one home…not really anyway. So where are all those beautiful Viking descendants who normally inhabit the length and breadth of Sweden? I think you’ll find leggy, bronze-tanned blondes giggling along the tiny streets of Greek Isles, particularly in little villages of Scandanavian charter hotels flying flags of Ving, Fritidsresor, Solresor and Apollo on the islands of Rhodes, Crete and Kos. The Costa del Sol and Costa Brava, are also entertaining Scandinavian guests slurping reasonably priced Cava and ordering mixed drinks with impunity. While Swedish might work as your secret language in Switzerland (where the confused might think Swedes are from anyway), it is also uttered by the vast majority of the serving staff in the vicinity of sunny beaches serving cheap, chilled beer. Vi talar svenska is printed both bold and clear on the menus of the beach shacks. Certainly, there are Swedes who have been left back home, but don’t expect them to be at their desks or even in their homes. If Sweden had sagebrush it would be rolling past the Ica supermarkets and local Systembolaget from Midsummer to the start of school in mid August. Those still on Swedish soil have packed the Volvo and absconded to picturesque red cottages with white trimmings, probably within a walk or bike ride to a cool, dark bathing spot. If they’re not basking in the sun or cooling off in a midnight blue lake, they might be plodding about in the woods picking the last of the wild strawberries or blueberries or, if they’re lucky, the early wild mushrooms. There are often echoes of festive songs and laughter coming from outdoor seating areas, well, at least until the mosquitoes come out. It makes me wonder why there aren’t more screened windows and doors, but that will have to wait for another diary entry. The country’s cosmopolitan capital, Stockholm, rattles a purring hum rather than its more common roar and crackle. No one runs for buses and there are no lines for anything—anywhere! With the exception of the tourist spots and the outdoor seating at Stureplan or Medborgarplatsen, of course. Whatever you do, don’t even think of invading Sweden through the Vasa Museum just after opening - and its not because hoards of patriotic Swedes are at the ready to man the cannons. It’s due to hoards of people, consisting of every nationality imaginable, mostly on shore leave from their cruise ships bobbing in Stockholm harbour or bussed in from just about anywhere, even far away Swedish places like Jokkmokk or Helsingborg.

Kemwell AB is a part of the Kemwell Group and the family owned Kemwell Pvt Ltd of India with its’ head office in Bangalore. Kemwell Group is a leading contract manufacturer of pharmaceuticals for global distribution. The company produces pharmaceuticals for five of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies in the world such as GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis and Pfizer. Kemwell Pvt Ltd is already one of the largest contract manufacturers of pharmaceuticals in India with more than 25 years experience. The Just because they have to, Stockholmsbörsen, the Swedish Stock Exchange, opens for business and trading. However there’s no need to fret if you can’t reach your stockbroker, you’re not missing any significant trades. You will never make or lose a fortune day trading on the Swedish exchange in July. Just because the stock exchange is open for trade it by no means guarantees any other business is open. Every Mom & Pop shop has a handwritten sign on the closed front door telling you whether they will be closed for two, three or four weeks. You really should call before you lug that printer across town to be repaired or pick up that dry cleaning you dropped off after crawling through the rose bushes on Midsummer’s Eve. Do you remember the cabinets you’ve had on order since mid June and they promised 3-week delivery? Fooled you. Production companies have industrial shut down for the most part of July. They’ll get to your order when they’re back in August and you won’t have lost your place in line. So now back to the strategy of invading Sweden. Your best day is for any sunny day in July, week 28 or 29. It really is irrelevant when those weeks fall but from the sheer lack of availability of rentals it is obvious no one is doing any defending. Any time would work, but just after the evening meal might work particularly well. The end of the day consists mostly of winding down, corking a bottle of wine or cracking open a beer. Whatever you do, avoid a naval attack. The armada of sailboats and other recreational ships is so vast it would be difficult to reach the coast before a few thousand mobile phone calls, texts or even zaps with the new iPhone anti-invader app. Your best bet is to drive in at just above the speed limit on the highways in Volvos packed full of gear, though you won’t really be able to take anything over with the place so empty. Maybe you should consider Christmas time instead? At that time everyone is in Thailand.

company has more than 1,000 employees worldwide and will by 2011 have seven production units - five in India and two in Sweden.

The Kemwell Commitment: Keep You Competitive Kemwell has the experience, expertise and infrastructure in place to meet your every need. Discover how our development and manufacturing solutions can keep you competitive: Quality:

Guarantee highest standards of quality and compliance

Benefit from high customer service levels

Speed:

Reduce time between drug development and commercialisation

Shorten lead times for an efficient supply chain

Value:

Do more with less in R&D and manufacturing

Innovate to streamline manufacturing

Whether you are looking for pre-formulation studies, formulation development, stability studies, analytical support, EU gateway release, clinical batch production, commercial-scale manufacturing or packaging, Kemwell is the ideal partner for you. Through collaboration and innovation, Kemwell meets every challenge successfully, refusing to rest until the customer is satisfied.

Kemwell is licensed to develop pharmaceuticals for the American, European, Japanese and Indian markets. For more information about

Kemwell: www.kemwellbiopharma.com

Keolis is dedicated to delivering reliable and sustainable transport services of highest quality, adapted to the changing needs of the passengers. “Our aim is to exceed the expectations of our clients and our passengers and to continuously improve our delivery and our efficiency”, says Lars Nordstrand the chairman of the board of Keolis Nordic, the development company for the Scandinavian markets. “We very much appreciate the initiative to double patronage in public transport and we give it our full support. Our target is to deliver high quality and attract new people to public transport. Originally a bus company, Keolis nowadays operates long distance and regional trains in Britain and in Germany as well as in the Netherlands. We are in fact number one in the world when it comes to tram operations and we are presently working in a number of new tram projects. We have the ambition to grow in expanding markets where we feel that we can contribute and where ambitions are high when it comes to public transport. We know that our experience of operations and passenger perceptions play an important role when planning new transport infrastructure. Keolis has an extensive expertise in planning and operating complex passenger transport systems”. Keolis is an international group based in France with activities all around the globe. “We don´t need to be the biggest player, but want to be the best partner and the most price worthy alternative in the eyes of our customers.”

In 2010 Keolis group generated a revenue of 4,1 billion euros – up 20% compared to 2009 - and employes 47 200 people in 12 countries.

Active private banking A heritage, hard work, a great idea, a talent. Each fortune has its own history, and the people behind it have their own individual needs. With international presence and more than 150 years of experience, we have the required knowledge to meet your expectations. Interested in private banking? Please call us at +352 26 23 24 55 contact@sebprivatebanking.com 64

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