ScandAsia South East Asia - August 2015

AUG 2015

Malaysia Indonesia Philippines Vietnam Cambodia Laos

The great escape to Cambodia - why?

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Sweden’s honorary consul in Penang, receives the Order of the Polar Star

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weden’s retiring Honorary Consul in Penang, Dato’ Dr Rasiah Ratnalingham, has received The Order Of The Polar Star at an audience with Swedish King Carl XIV Gustaf and Queen Silvia in Stockholm.

Dr Ratnalingam, Swedish Honorary Consul in Penang since 2005 and accompanied by his wife Datin Saroya,, took part in a Consular Conference in Stockholm 4-7 May together with the Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia Bengt G Carlsson. The consuls had the opportunity to visit the Royal Castle in Stockholm and at an audience with King and Queen. Dr Ratnalingam received the Order of the Polar Star (Nordstjärneorden).

The Order of the Polar Star was until 1975 intended as a reward for Swedish and foreign “civic merits, for devotion to duty, for science, literary, learned and useful works and for new and beneficial institutions”.

After the reorganization of the orders in 1975 the order is only awarded to foreigners and members of the royal family. It is often awarded to foreign office holders (such as Prime and Senior Ministers) during Swedish state visits. It is also awarded to junior members of royal families who would not qualify for the more prestigious Royal Order of the Seraphim.

Honorary Consulate of Sweden in Penang, Malaysia closed down

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t has been decided that the Swedish Honorary Consulate in Penang will be closed. The State Department makes continuous review of the need for Honorary Consulates around the world.

These are mainly in areas with a significant Swedish colony, large Swedish tourism or where the promotion of Sweden is considered particularly important.

It has turned out that the Swedish tourist stream to Penang has gone down significantly in recent years, resulting in few issues for the consulate to deal with. The number of resident Swedes is also so small that it cannot justify maintaining the consulate’s activity after the current consul retired.

Responsibility for the area covered up to the closure by the Consulate now lies fully with the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, which is located at a reasonable distance from Penang.

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Volvo Malaysia opens new dealership in Prai

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olvo Tr ucks Malaysia has opened a refurbished and enhanced dealership in Prai reports Bernama.

The opening is part of Volvo’s RM75 million investment to upgrade its dealerships across Malaysia.

The Swedish trucks giant described this investment as crucial for the further development of Volvo in Malaysia, reflecting on their expanding presence in the northern part of Malaysia and also mirroring their growth strategy.

As Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia Bengt Carlsson opened the premises on 3 July, Managing

Director Mats Nilsson said the group had invested RM8.5 million to upgrade the space and facilities of the Prai dealership, which is strategically located in the Prai Industrial zone.

He said the launch of this centre demonstrates Volvo’s commitment in providing Malaysians a closer reach to the group’s total brand and ownership experience.

“An investment like this is crucial for the further development of Volvo in Malaysia and it reflects on our expanding presence in the northern part of Malaysia and also mirrors our growth strategy.”

He also said the investment reflected Volvo’s commitment in network development strategy which was in line with its corporate direction to increase customers’ satisfaction and strengthen relations through higher efficiency.

“As a leader in the heavy duty commercial vehicle segment in Malaysia, we need to constantly elevate our service offerings not to just meet but exceed our customers’ expectations for aftermarket support.”

In this strive to elevate its aftermarket support to a higher level Volvo Trucks has also opened upgraded dealerships in Ipoh, Kuantan, Kuching and Sibu and have upcoming launches in Port Klang and Sandakan.

Sibu was, upon the reopening in early 2015 the second highest revenue contributor to Volvo Trucks after the central region of Peninsular Malaysia in terms of parts sale.

Volvo Trucks, introduced in Malaysia in 1969, commands 57 per cent of the market share for heavy-duty trucks in Malaysia. Volvo Malaysia achieved stellar performance last year where it invoiced 424 trucks, an increase of 29 per cent, from the previous year.

“We have achieved stellar growth in the truck business and will continue our gain of market share after an unprecedented 38.5 per cent growth in truck sales last year.”

“This accomplishment has further reinforced our position as the leading brand in the European heavy duty trucks segment in Malaysia,” Mats Nilsson told reporters.

NBCP holds another signature ‘Speed Networking Night’ in Manila

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ordic Business Council Philippines held its signature Speed Networking Night at the Globe Tower in Bonifacio Global City, Manila, on Monday June 15, 2015. Around 70 members and guests took part in the speed networking, which is a fun and effective way to meet new people in a coordinated and structured manner where guests can meet everyone in the room.

In addition to the speed networking, new members Globe Telecom Inc., Finnair Plc, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, R.G. Manabat & Co. (KPMG), and Skandinavian Solar Corp. were inducted and introduced to the NBCP membership. Globe Telecom EVP for International and Business Markets Gil B. Genio delivered a message from event partner Globe to the audience.

“Speed networking is a signature event of NBCP - we were the first in the chamber of commerce scene in Manila to introduce to 4 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

concept back in early 2013. Since then, we have held the event on a regular basis, and the feedback has been very positive each time. NBCP members and guests specifically appreciate the efficiency of speed networking as a way to make new business connections, while also enjoying the casual and

fun aspects of the concept,” Executive Director Joona Selin told ScandAsia.

NBCP thanked their host Globe Telecom and premium member BDO Unibank for making the event possible.

News Brief

First joint Nordic Midsummer Party held in Jakarta

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n 4 June the Nordic Embassies in Jakarta came together for a first joint Nordic Midsummer Party as the four Nordic Embassies; Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden celebrated their annual national days together.

Nordic Midsummer celebration is about enjoying the best seasonal foods and drinks, singing, making flower crowns, playing traditional games, dancing around midsummer pole or making midsummer bonfire.

The Nordic Embassies gathered more than 1,000 guests, including Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya and Minister of National Development, Andrinof Chaniago, in the gardens of Shangri-La hotel in the morning of 4 June to celebrate the Nordic green and sustainable lifestyle. With reference to sustainability and the green theme of the event, the four Ambassadors together with more than one hundred sporty colleagues and friends bicycled from Monas to the Shangri-La hotel to start the party.

The 4 Nordic countries are all focused on green energy as well as green and healthy living.

Therefore, the Nordic Midsummer Par ty was held as a morning garden par ty with healthy food and drinks, active games in the 4 country corners and, on top of it all, many guests joined the #Bike2Party! The Embassies of Denmark and Norway together with Bike2Work are trying to bike Jakar ta greener once every month at #VikingBikingIndonesia In the hotel gardens, each Embassy had created a country corner showcasing their green innocative solutions and products, and engaging the guests in traditional Scandinavian games such as “the potato run” and “kick the hat off a stick” (Hallingkast). /Source: Norway in Indonesia, Finnish Embassy Jakarta and Denmark in Indonesia.

August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 5

News Brief

Carlsberg’s J.C. Jacobsen Foundation starts off with active first year

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n June 2014 Carlsberg Malaysia set up the J. C. Jacobsen Foundation, as a community outreach and an extension of the robust Corporate Social Responsibility program of the international Danish brewery company. One year later, the foundation can look back at a busy year.

In September last year, the Foundation took 80 volunteers to the Sungai Liam waterfall in Ulu Yam to rejuvenate and refresh the area. Following in November, the charity outreach set out to contribute, hands-on, to a cleaner environment as well as to raise the awareness of river ecosystems at the Sungai Kanching of Templer’s Park.

Everyone has a role to play in preserving natural water resources as clean water is important to the livelihood of human kind, was the philosophy behind this advocacy work. 60 volunteers, comprised of Chairman of J.C. Jacobsen Foundation Dato’ Lim Say Chong, together with Carlsberg Malaysia employees and members from two non-government organisations (NGO), Kelah Association of Malaysia (KAGUM) and Rotary Club of Bangsar, rolled up their sleeves to clean up the riverbanks. Throughout the half-day community work, volunteers learned about the freshwater fishes and species, enjoyed the fresh

air and beautiful scenery of the river steams and the importance of river ecosystem around Templer’s Park.

The initiative also gave their volunteers the chance to deepen their knowledge of Malaysian rivers as a source of water and habitat.

Operating in Shah Alam Carlsberg Malaysia, through its foundation is is committed to do its par t for the neighbourhood where it is operating in as to make its neighbourhood a greener environment. Therefore, in March 2015 the foundation pledged its support towards the Shah Alam Trees for Life programme by making a cash contribution of RM45,000.

In joint collaboration with the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), some 300 volunteers, from the public and the Foundation planted approximately 15,000 trees along Jalan Monfort, Seksyen U1 & U2 in Shah Alam. At the trees planting event, volunteers were also briefed on the various specifies of trees by Dr. Jean Marc Roda from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Institute of Tropical Forestry & Forest Products.

“We believe that through collaboration with others, we could make a greater impact.

Planting more trees around Shah Alam not only accentuates the aesthetic of this beautiful city, it also contributes towards combating climate change,” said Henrik Juel Andersen, member of Board of Trustees of J.C. Jacobsen Foundation.

According to Mayor of Shah Alam, Dato’ Hj. Ahmad Zaharin b. Mohd Saad, the Trees for Life programme, which is now running in its 5th year, is an important activity on the city council’s yearly agenda, as it brings together various parties for a common goal, that is to value and protect the environment.

“We are pleased that J.C . Jacobsen Foundation could be the first partner this year for MBSA’s Trees for Life and we hope other corporate entities would follow the Foundation’s footsteps, as it helps to ensure the success of this programme,” he said.

The Foundation was named after the founder of Carlsberg, J.C. Jacobsen, who was known for his deep passion for philanthropy. Its mission aims at enhancing and protecting the quality of life of Malaysians, committed to nurturing a better and greener future by making a difference and impact to three core pillars of education, sports and environment.

Next Danish Ambassadors appointed for China and Vietnam

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pon the depar tures of Danish ambassadors Friis Arne Petersen and John Nielsen, from China and Vietnam respectively during this summer, the new Danish ambassadors have been appointed for their replacement.

A. Carsten Damsgaard, Ambassador to Japan, is transferred to take over the helm in Beijing, China, while Charlotte Laursen, from the foreign ministry in Denmark returns to the Embassy of Denmark, Vietnam, only this time as Denmark’s new ambassador, to continue her SoutheastAsian journey.

6 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

The Counsellor once replaced Mikael H. Winther as deputy head of the Embassy in Bangkok. And prior to that Mrs. Laursen was actually posted in Vietnam, in Hanoi since September 2004 as Deputy Head of Mission.

At Danish Ministr y for Foreign Affairs, Charlotte Laursen was responsible for Strategies.

Policy and Quality, and board member of The Trade Council.

A. Carsten Damsgaard was appointed to be Denmark’s ambassador to Japan on 1 September 2011. Previously he was the Ambassador to Afghanistan.

August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 7

The great escape to

Cambodia - why?

By Bjarne Wildau

There are several good reasons why you should consider relocating to Cambodia, writes Bjarne Wildau

P

ick any restaurant in Cambodia where you see some white people looking like regulars guests sitting with their daily “Happy hour” beers. Sit down with them and notice how the conversation soon will be about Thailand. Make a head-count and most likely you will find that at least half of your new friends are “refugees” from Thailand.

So why is that? Thailand is the “land of smiles” would it not be better to stay there? Well, let me take you trough a few god reasons why Cambodia is far more attractive.

The best visa in the world Cambodia’s biggest attraction for 95% of the Barangs (Westerners in Khmer), is perhaps the visa and work permit rules which are maybe the most convenient anywhere in the world. In Cambodia they have two different kinds of visas. I have no count on the jungle of different types of visas they have in Thailand.

Cambodia’s Tourist Visa is what most people buy. It costs around 25 dollars and gives you permission to stay 30 days. You can extend it at the nearest travel agency. They will charge 8 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

a small amount, three maybe five dollars, and you will have your passport back two or three working days later. However, you can only extend a tourist visa inside Cambodia once. The fine for overstaying is 5$ a day - but don’t even consider calculating if a ticket out will cost you more than paying a fine for overstay. Overstaying may end you in jail. Don’t go there!

The other kind of visa in Cambodia is normally called “Business visa (EI)”.You can buy the Business Visa arrival in an airport or at a border crossing.

The price is between 30 to 60 USD depending on the boss of the local immigration office where you are trying to enter the country.

Be prepared, that most of the bad experiences you will have in Cambodia may very well happen here on the Cambodian side of the border. The Cambodian side of immigration is typically very open. Everybody can enter. There will probably even be people helping you filling out the health formula. But afterwards they will demand money for their effort. Other people will probably help you make your most valuable belongings - cameras, smart phones, wallet, etc. - disappear. Especially the Poi Pet border crossing is notorious for theft.

Question: What papers do you need to get at business visa?

Answer : You need your passpor t and the money it costs.

That’s it. You don’t need to prove how much money you have, neither in your pocket, nor in any banks abroad or in Cambodia. All of the hassle that some people have been through in other countries is gone. It can be hard to believe, but... it is as simple as that.

The business visa (EI) can be extended up to one year at a local travel agency. Never, n e v e r, try to go to the immigration department i Phnom Penh to save 5$ or a little more. Be good to yourself and do it locally.

Be aware that you have to buy at least a 6 months business visa extension inside Cambodia if you want to be able to leave the Kingdom without having your visa cancelled at the border crossing. If you have at least a 6 months business visa you can cross the border every day, until there is no more space in your passport.

If you want to work in Cambodia, you should buy a Work Permit. Once again. Nothing to prove, just pay 100 $ a year. And there is no limitations

For the last three years, the best hospital in Cambodia has been the Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital on the Eastern side of the South coast.

Its run by the the HOPE worldwide foundation.

If you get at health problem, worse than a cold or trivial infections, it is advisable to go to Thailand or if possible go back home. Without hesitation. Many rookies are unaware the the little seemingly innocent infection on their foot or shin bone may develop into some nasty life threatening blood infection much faster out here than it would back home. On top of that, some of the same people are often unaware that alcohol and whatever medicine they take could be a bad cocktail in the heat.

Do they have schools?

Parents with small children seems to do OK. But what about when children reach the age of preschool? It seems to be no problem. You will find the words “International School” on almost every corner i towns like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Siem Reap, Kampot, etc.

In reality the only town that comes close to having a real International School is Phnom Penh. But you can forget that unless you have an employer who is ready to pay the school fee, or you yourself happen to be a dollar millionaire.

Where is it best to settle?

Infrastructure in Cambodia is like in Thailand 30 years ago. But as in Thailand, things are fast getting better. As an example, they just opened a new fantastic road from Kampot in the south, close to the Vietnamese border, to Phnom Penh.

In fact, if you haven’t been to Cambodia for five or ten year you may think the plane has landed in the wrong country. The Asian World Bank calls Cambodia for the “new small Asian tiger”. They financed and pushed forward for the renovation and extension of the Cambodian railways. Three four times a day, trains now arrive at the trainstation in the harbour city Sihanoukville, full of goods that would otherwise have had to be trucked down there on the roads. which job you can have. Bartender, pancake-baker and seller with a cart, a restaurant, a factory, run and drive a minibus service.

Despite the small cost,thousands of Barangs has for years skipped buying the work permit and just used the business visa. But recently, the immigration police has started to implement the rules.They estimate that only 30% of the working Barangs in Cambodia have paid the early 100$.

Currently, there are 75 foreigners in jail i Sihanoukville for visa, work permit or passport problems. Don’t become one of them when you can so easily avoid it.

Who should settle in Cambodia?

More and more retired couples stay permanently or part of the year in Cambodia. Typically when the weather back home is cold and rainy. They will soon get to know other couple who have retired here too.

Some young couples with children also settle and even open a business.

And then you have a big group of foreigners who are here on long term stay because of the easier visa, the cheaper prices, and the cheaper

girls. Before you think bad about “your granddad”, relax, they will be punished sooner or later.

What are the risks?

Some, but not that many, think about the risks.

Illness and accidents do happen. Cambodia is one of the countries, where you should consider how you can safeguard yourself. New hospitals open, old hospitals are renovated, and the prices go up.

The problem is not the planned situation.

When you know well in advance that you need an operation for an illness you just go to one of the private hospitals and they will find a time for one of the literally flying doctors, specialist who know their trade.

The problem is the acute stuff. A long term Scandinavian had the yearly visit of his father. After a few days he got a heart attack or a stroke and fell unconscious. The son rushed him to the best hospital in town but here they said they had to wait untill they could find a doctor who could speak English - with the unconscious patient!!!

Luckily, the pensioner from Denmark survived, but it was not thanks to the English speaking doctor, who arrived 45 minutes later.

August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 9

This is my restaurant!

Where is my girlfriend?

A

Power supply is still a huge problem. It improved a lot when a new power plant was started up one year a go. But you still have to consider where you settle, and if you will save the money and stay in a house without a generator. In short, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap, and maybe repeat: maybe - Battambang.

If you plan to do business, here is a website that may help you: http://www.doingbusiness.or g/data/ exploreeconomies/cambodia/star ting-abusiness/

sex trade happens on the Octual Beach in Sihanoukville, at places like Dolphin or JJ bar.

Here, the secret weapon of the freelance prostitutes is Ketamin, also called horse medicine. A Scandinavian sex tourist went in to have a breakfast at a Scandinavian restaurant.

He talk with the owner about freelancers on the beach. And was warned. Still, 36 hours he woke up, not naked, but everything else including the sweet lovely lady he had brought home two nights ago - was gone. He even had to go to Hanoi to get a new passport.

Nightlife in Cambodia

So should you stay away from Cambodia?

No way if you can live with the standards of hospitals and education. But yes, please stay away if you are too smart to listen to other people’s free advice.

Here is some more of that free stuff: Never loose control over your mind and your body.

If you walk like a snake at four in the morning, you are asking for trouble. And don’t buy the bad stuff, amfetamin, ice, heroin, cocaine, weed, or whatever they offer you. Cambodia is still a poor countr y and some people will do whatever it takes to survive. The children who sell bracelets are so nice, cute, and their English is so good. Oops! Where is my wallet? Or my brand new Iphone?

In Cambodia, new casinos pop up like McDonald’s did 10 years ago in China.They are everywhere. Close to the Vietnamese border, to the Thai border, and in almost every town in between with more than 50.000 citizens.

And yes, 90% of the tourist coming to Cambodia, or long term stayers, are also here because the prostitutes. Especially the guys who over in Thailand have spend hundreds of nights sleeping with prostitutes thinks it is same-same here.

NOT! There are places in Cambodia where men can hire a girl and feel reasonably safe and secure, but just like you have Pattaya in Thailand, then in Cambodia a lot of the

Better stay away?

10 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

hard working Scandinavian carpenter I knew was a ver y ver y happy man. He lived in Sihanoukville with his his girlfriend “Mom”.

She was 38 years younger and weighed 38 kilos less than him. Mom was so nice, both in the bedroom and in their restaurant, which he had bought in her name of course.

The carpenter made their restaurant one of the nicest places in town. The Americans say: Location location, location, and the restaurant was the first they saw on their left hand side when they arrived on the beach.

Mom and the carpenter had a high season, and a low season, and everything was fine. Then he went home to Scandinavia to work his socks off so he could buy some land and build a house for his new family.

Foreigners can not buy land in Cambodia so it would have to be in her name once again.

Back in Cambodia again, he bought the land, started to build the house, the restaurant was still OK, but his girlfriend had changed. One night he saw her shaking or twitching like on drugs, he confronted her with his suspicion, but she denied, they made love and he believed her.

Then one afternoon she came back screaming that she had been robbed. She was bringing the money to pay the people who were building their house and now it was all gone. The carpenter took her in his strong arms and she calmed down. Then he went back to Scandinavia to earn some more money to his wonderful wife.

Back in Denmark, something unusual happened.

She phoned him and asked him to send money.

Normally the restaurant made enough money during the peak season to make it through the low season. But her mother had had a bad accident and if she didn’t get money big big, mama would die.

So the good carpenter transferred the money and worked one extra month in Denmark. Finally, he could return. In the tax free in Bangkok he bought her a bracelet of silver, and some fancy perfume. He even missed her so much, that he took a taxi straight from Phnom Penh airport to the restaurant in Sihanoukville.

Stepping out of the taxi, he got his first shock. The walls were painted white, he could not recognise one single waiter, and behind the bar there was this big khmer man ordering the staff to do this or that.

“Who are you? What are you doing behind my bar.

Where is my girlfriend?” the carpenter was screaming.

The man did not answer, just brushed the carpenter aside. Some 10 minutes later, after 25 bottles were smashed and the Khmer behind the bar had a broken nose and two black eyes, the police arrived and slammed a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of the carpenter.

On the way to the police station, the police officer stole the bracelet that the carpenter bought for his lovely girlfriend.

The short story was that the mother had never been in any accident but lovely Mom had gone back to smoking ice 20 minutes after the carpenter had left for the airport and her boyfriend from since she was eighteen told her to sell the restaurant.

And I got a good story to tell.

Ambassador to Vietnam:

Swedish innovation leads way to renewable success

By Camilla Mellander

M

arking Swedish National Day on 6 June Swedish Ambassador Camilla Mellander, Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi highlights Swedish innovation and its development towards sustainability in this article.

By the end of the 19th century, Sweden was a poor rural country, but in the 20th century, the economy took off. In 2013 we had a GDP/ capita of about US$60,000 – among the highest in the world.

Innovation has been one of the key success factors to this economic growth, and in Sweden our open and free environment has meant that innovation and creativity can prosper. I would like to mention three areas where our innovativeness propelled us to the forefront.

Sweden as an IT hub Sweden is one of the most connected countries in the world. More than 99 per cent of Swedes have access to internet broadband. There are also quite a few IT innovations coming from Sweden.

If you use a computer mouse, talked to friends and family through Skype or listened to streamed music through Spotify, then you are using Swedish innovations.

Swedish IT companies continue to innovate.

Stockholm has become one of Europe’s leading hubs of information technology research.

Stockholm is now second only to Silicon Valley when it comes to billion-dollar IT-star tups.

Mojang, the company behind the global success

Minecraft, was bought by Microsoft for a staggering US$2.5 billion last year.

I am happy to see the positive development in the Vietnamese IT sector with the recent launch of Viet Nam’s first homegrown smar tphone – Bphone by BKAV. This is an example of Viet Nam moving up the value-chain in its key export industries and becoming increasingly innovative.

Sustainability Sweden also prides itself on innovations in the clean-tech sector. We have shown that economic growth and preserving the environment can go hand-in-hand. The Swedish economy has nearly doubled since the 70’s and at the same time emissions have nearly halved.

About half of all energy consumed in Sweden comes from renewable sources. We are also turning waste into valuable energy and in fact Sweden is today a net importer of waste that we use for our heating systems. Only about one per cent of our waste goes in landfills, the rest is recycled. Buses and taxis in many Swedish cities now run on biogas that is produced from household and industrial waste.

Swedish cleantech companies are active in a wide range of fields, such as waste water cleaning, biogas, waste-to-energy and just to mention a few.

Many of these innovative cleantech companies have star ted to work here in Viet Nam as well, bringing technology that can help Viet Nam on its path to becoming a greener economy. We are encouraging more of them to come.

Music The last area I would like to mention is the Swedish music industry. Starting in the 70’s with ABBA, through the 80’s and 90’s with bands such as Roxette, Europe and Ace of Bace and now Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and Robyn are conquering the world with their hits.

Swedish producers also working behind the scenes of other successful artists, Max Martin for example is producing for world-known artists such as Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. He now has the third most Billboard top hits in the world only after John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Sweden is by far the largest music exporter in per capita terms and the third largest in the world in real terms. We are only surpassed by the United States and the United Kingdom.

A recent success was achieved only two weeks ago when Mans Zelmerlow with his song Heroes won the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden. This marked the sixth time Sweden win the award.

To have music you need creativity. To have creativity you need an open and tolerant society. This creativity will then translate both into Billboard hits and technology innovation which will lead to economic growth. This is the path Sweden has chosen with creativity and innovation hand-in-hand.

Republished with kind permission from the Swedish Embassy in Hanoi.

The article first appeared in Viet Nam News.

August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 11

Denmark’s Ambassador to Vietnam reflects upon the relations

By John Nielsen

M

arking Denmark’s Constitution Day (celebrated also among Danes abroad), its ambassador to Vietnam, John Nielsen, reflects upon the relations between the two countries during his tenure: On June 5, Danes commemorate their constitution, which gives them the right to free speech, to cast votes and to play a role in the development of society. We celebrate the society we have been able to build on the basis of this constitution, a society with a vibrant democracy, with welfare standards for all citizens at its very core; free education, schools and universities, free healthcare and hospitals, basic economic suppor t for families-in-need and a firm focus on building a sustainable green economy and future.

This year, we also celebrate the 100th anniversary of a constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote and stand for election.

The Danish welfare state relies on trade with other countries. Danish exports of goods and services are equivalent to roughly 55 per

cent of Denmark’s GDP. One in four jobs in Denmark is directly or indirectly linked to the export sector.

Denmark has built a strong par tnership with Viet Nam going back to our recognition of northern Viet Nam in 1971. For the last five years, I have celebrated Constitution Day in Viet Nam. Viet Nam has become my second home.

During my time here, I was happy to see how our partnership flourished in trade and investment, at the political level and within sports and culture.

Since 1994, Denmark has provided Viet Nam with more than US$1.3 billion in development assistance. Today, Denmark is still among the largest providers of Official Development Assistance grants to Viet Nam. We have suppor ted the Vietnamese Government’s move for pover ty reduction, offering farmers and fishermen oppor tunities to provide for their families. We have suppor ted good governance and public administrative reforms, the strengthening of the private business sector and the national climate program.

12 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

In 2012, visiting Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt launched the “Growth Market Strategy” for Viet Nam, making Viet Nam one of only 10 priority countries. In 2013, during the visit of President Truong Tan Sang to Denmark, a Comprehensive Par tnership Agreement between our two countries was signed.

Strengthening political dialogue and cooperation, trade and investment and cooperation in green growth, as well as education, culture and research, the Comprehensive Partnership lifted co-operation to a new level.

In the commercial field, bilateral trade has doubled since 2010. More than 130 Danish companies are present in Viet Nam. In a number of key commercial areas, we have seen a good match between Danish exper tise and technology and the current challenges and demands in Viet Nam. This is par ticularly relevant in regards to energy efficiency, renewable energy, water and waste management, as well as fisheries and food safety, IT, healthcare, shipping and education.

Visits earlier this year to Viet Nam by the Danish Minister for Trade and Development Co-operation and the Minister for Education and a number of Danish educational institutions demonstrate the clear Danish ambition and commitment to suppor t the reforms and development in Viet Nam. Culture and sports are important areas of co-operation among our countries. In culture we have suppor ted children’s literature, film, painting, design and more than 120 ar ts and cultural projects. Denmark suppor ted the Monsoon Music Festival in Ha Noi last October.

The first international music festival in Viet Nam, it was inspired by the famous Roskilde Festival in Denmark. In 2012, we also co-founded the Viet Nam Mountain Marathon, which now takes place every year in Sapa.

I am profoundly optimistic about Viet Nam’s future. Viet Nam still holds great socioeconomic development potential. Whether this can be unlocked, largely depends on continued institutional and economic refor ms and integration of the Vietnamese economy into the global markets.

As we celebrate our Constitution Day, Denmark stands ready to forge an even stronger partnership between our two countries in the years to come; between our governments, our companies and not least among our people.

Medals of honour for

Denmark’s Ambassador to Vietnam

I

n early June, 2015, Danish Ambassador John Nielsen received two medals of honour for the outstanding results achieved during the Ambassador’s five years term in Vietnam. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Đúc Phát awarded the Ambassador with the medal of honour and stressed the pivotal importance of the Danish ODA projects that has created jobs for thousands upon thousands of poor farmers and fishermen in many provinces giving them the opportunity to provide income for their families.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyên Minh Quang also awarded the Ambassador with a medal of honour stressing the importance of the Danish focus on climate, energy, and green growth. The Minister highlighted among other things the great importance of Denmark’s suppor t to the Vietnamese Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Programme and the Ambassador’s personal commitment as four times acting Earth Hour Ambassador.

Following on this, later in June President Truong Tan Sang met with Danish Ambassador John Nielsen and thanked him for the cooperation and the achieved results. He recognized that the cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark has reached new heights during the last years, particularly with the signing of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement.

“After five years here I think of Vietnam as my second home. I am happy to see how the friendship and partnership between our two countries flourish within trade and investment, at the political level and within sports, culture and between our people” says John Nielsen.

“I am optimistic about Vietnam’s future. Vietnam is developing fast and still holds great socio-economic development potentials. Whether this can be unlocked, largely depends on continued economic and institutional reforms and the further integration of the Vietnamese economy into the global economy. At the same time I am optimistic about an even further enhanced par tnership between Vietnam and Denmark. Denmark and Danish companies has unique strongholds in many of the areas where Vietnam are facing some challenges” concludes Mr. John Nielsen.

Vietnam holds farewell ceremony for Danish Ambassador John Nielsen

D

anish Ambassador John Nielsen has met with Mr Lê Hoàng Quân, the Chairman of the People’s Committee in Ho Chi Minh City in connection with the Ambassador’s term coming to an end.The ceremony marked the last five years of fruitful political partnership between Denmark and Vietnam and the increased trade and investment between Danish and Vietnamese companies in the Ho Chi Minh City area.

At the meeting the Chairman expressed his appreciation of the close collaboration with Denmark. He thanked the Ambassador for his very active participation in increasing Danish business interests and raising awareness about climate change. He also recalled his fond memories of the many delegations that had visited Ho Chi Minh City over the years including successful visit from the Danish Royal Family.

“We have over these years seen a significant increase of Danish companies present in the HCMC, Binh Duong & Dong Nai areas. The Comprehensive Partnership Agreement signed in 2013 provides a good platform for further expanding this cooperation and I am very optimistic about the opportunities for increasing our business ties” concluded the Ambassador.

August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 13

The Nordic Q&A countries and China’s AIIB

Reader profile of the month

Fredrik Sterner

C

hina has welcomed Denmark’s application to become a founding member of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Danish Minister of Trade and Development Mogens Jensen called China’s establishment of the AIIB “a significant and exciting development in the world order.”

“Since many Danish tr ade interests as well as development cooperation interests will be at stake in the AIIB, there are many reasons to engage in and influence the AIIB’s investment decisions from its beginning,” Jensen said. Denmark became itself a founding member on 12 April 2015.

Sweden is interested in joining the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), but has not made an official decision yet, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said during his speech at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. “We haven’t decided, but we are very close and we think we will be interested in joining too.”

Prime Minister Lofven pointed to the need for infrastr ucture investment in Asia over the coming decade, estimated to be $70,000 billion.

“Of course, many companies, many countries want to be part of those investments,” he noted.

Norway has meanwhile confirmed its intention to join AIIF as a prospective founding member. ‘ N o r w ay i s a s u b s t a n t i a l

contributor to global development efforts, and wishes to join countries from Asia and other par ts of the world in fur ther refining the structure and mission of the AIIB,’ said Foreign Minister Børge Brende.

‘The establishment of the AIIB will be impor tant for Norwegian development priorities. Norway will work to ensure that the AIIB embodies the best standards of governance, accountability and transparency. We expect it to work closely with and complement the efforts of other relevant institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund,’ said Mr Brende.

Norway will take par t in discussions with the other founding members on the AIIB’s Ar ticles of Agreement, which will set out the terms of governance and accountability for the new institution. The final decision on Norway’s membership of the AIIB, together with the structure and level of Norwegian financial support, will then be made.

Starting AIIB is aimed at helping to fund infrastructure projects in poor Asian countries. The Beijingbased bank, which will suppor t infrastructure projects in Asia, is expected to be operational by the end of 2015, with China expected to foot the bulk of the money needed to get the bank started. Donations from other members could increase the size of the overall fund to more than US$100 billion.

14 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

F

redrik Sterner is 29 years old, originates from Sweden, lived in Beijing for six years and now in Shanghai for the past six month. He works for Per Linden, CEO of Scandic Foods Asia.They have several web shops where they sell Scandinavian food and beverage products.

From time to time Fredrik misses Sweden, but it is mainly his family and friends that he misses. At the moment he does not have any plans of moving back.

The best thing about working in Shanghai is... the incredibly fast-paced working environment and all the things you learn by just going with it.

It has taught me never to slow down. However, I used to live in Beijing for six years and it took me a while to adjust to the speed of the city.

When I am not working I... workout, travel with my girlfriend that I met while I lived in Beijing.

I also study for future challenges, since it is a good idea to always stay on top of career pursuits and what matters to your field.

Especially in China.

My biggest concern before moving to Shanghai was... making enough money to get by long term.

In Shanghai I could do without...

freezing in the winter due to lack of heating.

Living outside of Scandinavia has made me realize... that the wor ld is a lot less or ganized and prosperous than we realize. Scandinavia is wonderfully organized, but we sometimes forget our own history has it’s periods of chaos. Societies develop through different stages, China is just catching up.

I use the Scandinavian community in Shanghai to... network, socialize and stay in touch with our culture. I have a large network of Scandinavians that I socialize with mixed together with people from all over the world. It is mainly the food that keeps us together.

In Shanghai I have picked up the habit of... planning my life in careful detail. I always stay on top with my health.

Workouts are regular. I cook on my own. My girlfriend lives in Beijing, which requires careful planning to make ever ything work. I like it that way.

My best advice to a newcomer in Shanghai is... g e t r e a d y t o wo r k h a r d .

Compared to Sweden, there is not a social safety net, which makes life easier.

Enjoy Naturism in Asia

Danish naturist boutique resort in Bangkok

85 Soi Prasert-Manukitch 29, Yaek 7 Lad Prao district, Bangkok 10230 Location: 13.841978, 100.616500 www.barefeetnaturistresort.com MB: 096 889 1112

August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 15