Sweden has a long history of being represented in Japan, at first it was the Dutch in the 19th century who aided by representing the union of Sweden and Norway. But it was not until 1907 after the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway that the first permanent representation was established. The current embassy in Tokyo was completed in 1991 and is one the largest embassies that Sweden has. On March 6th Johannes Schygge and Alexander Fornell met with Louise Gårdestad, Third Secretary at the embassy who talked about the work that the embassy does as well as how it is to work at an embassy in a foreign country.
On March 5th, CITO representatives Johannes Schygge and Alexander Fornell traveled to Akasaka, Tokyo to meet a Chalmers Alumni from Mechanical Engineering – 1976. Carl-Gustav Eklund, Representative Director / President at Höganäs Japan K.K. who is an active part in the Swedish community in Japan, but also in CING Japan (Chalmersska Ingenjörsföreningen / Alumni Association).
Situated in the bustling Tokyo district of Roppongi, which is home to multinational companies such as Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse lays the Swedish embassy. Here CITO representatives Johannes Schygge and Alexander Fornell met with Andreas Olausson, Commercial Officer at Business Sweden Japan.
CITO representative Viktor Mårdström went on yet another excursion into Singapore’s busy and densely built financial district, the so-called Downtown Core. After getting lost several times and accidentally ending up in the office of Merrill Lynch, CITO was finally able to get to the meeting with Handelsbanken and its Singapore General Manager and Senior Vice President, Jan Djerf.
West of Jurong Lake Park, on the outskirts of the Jurong Industrial District, lies the Singapore logistics hub of SSAB. CITO Representative Viktor Mårdström went there during his trip to Singapore to better understand how Swedish industrial companies operate in the region. Lars Juntti, Vice President and Head of Operations at SSAB Singapore, hosted CITO during the visit.
In the corporate maze that is the Jurong Industrial District, CITO found its way to Volvo Trucks and Volvo Construction Equipment. CITO representative Viktor Mårdström met with Simon Fransson, Manager of Marketing Strategy and Internal Communication at Volvo Trucks, as well as Anne Bast, Vice President of Corporate Communication at Volvo Construction Equipment.
On the 20th of February CITO went to the Downtown Core, the famous financial centre of Singapore. This was the second time CITO representative Viktor Mårdström visited the area but navigating through the massive financial complexes was still quite challenging for someone not knowing exactly which way to go. In the end, CITO was warmly greeted by Bo Carlsson of SEB in its office at Collyer Quay.
CITO arranged a pub quiz in the office to show a common way for Swedes to entertain themselves.
All six members of CITO 2012 went to the outskirts of central Taipei, where we were able to find our way to Ericsson without too much trouble. We were greeted by Mathias Johansson, Göran Vetterstrand and Anthony Lien among others, who thoroughly presented Ericsson’s operations in Greater China and Asia.
On the night of Lucia, the CITO office arranged an event that further displayed the Swedish Christmas time spirit. Everyone who attended were served and gingerbreads and “Glögg”, which is warm Swedish mulled wine. We also sang typical Swedish christmas songs. Thanks for attending!
