Welcomed by Ambassador Ingrid Tersman, Team Sweden – Embassy of Sweden and SCCE – gathered at the Ambassador’s Residence, Thursday evening 3 February, to Kick-Off the new Business Year.

- I came to Tallinn and Narva for the first time in 1994. Since then, I have been back here several times working with not only Estonia, but also with Latvia and Lithuania in different positions at our Foreign Ministry and our Ministry of Defence, said Ingrid Tersman.

- Before I took up my position in Tallinn last autumn, I served as Ambassador to Southern Central Asia and before that, as Ambassador to Moldova. I have also served in Northern Afghanistan with the Swedish troops, and at the Ministry for Defense. Looking back, in several of my positions, I have worked with the Baltic region, and it makes me happy to be back in our common neighborhood.

- The relations between our two countries are both excellent and close. In January this year, President Alar Karis made his first official visit to Stockholm and met with, among many others, King Carl XVI Gustaf and the Speaker of the Riksdag, Andreas Norlén. Close contacts are also ongoing between our Prime Ministers as well as other Ministers of our two countries’ Governments.

- Furthermore, Sweden’s Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, General Micael Bydén, visited Estonia at the end of January. He met and discussed bilateral cooperation and the regional security situation with his Estonian counterpart, Lieutenant General Martin Herem, and the Minister of Defence, Kalle Laanet.

- I now look forward to continue to develop the excellent and close relations, including commerce, trade and investments, between our two countries together with my excellent colleagues at the Embassy, concluded Ingrid Tersman.

- Will the pandemic end this spring? On one hand, the number of Covid-19 cases are booming but, on the other hand, the current Omikron variant of the Coronavirus causes fewer serious illnesses, making it easier to phase out restrictions, said Mihkel Nestor - Chief Economist at SEB Estonia, as he commented on the bank’s latest and very fresh Nordic Outlook, with a focus on Estonia and Sweden.

- As for Estonia, we expect 2022 to be "more exciting" than average from an economic point of view. Exports continue to surge and the industrial production exceeds pre-crisis level. The number of job vacancies are about to break previous records and the rapid rise in living costs will be accompanied by even faster growth of wages and salaries.

- In Sweden, a slowdown in the economy can be noted due to higher inflation. However, full order books hint to an investment bonanza and the labormarket is heating up. And, despite the high inflation, consumption is increasing, concluded Mihkel Nestor.

Mihkel’s presentation is available on the link below.

Our Kick-Off concluded with a delicious buffet as we mingled and further discussed what’s ahead during 2022.

On behalf of the SCCE, I would like to thank Ambassador Ingrid Tersman for hosting a very nice Team Sweden Kick-Off. My thanks also go to Mihkel Nestor for his interesting update on the economy, and to all participants for making our evening together to a very refreshing event.

Sincerely,

Kristiina Brodén - SCCE Ombudsman