4 minute read
FOR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE TOGETHER
SWEDISH BUSINESS CLUB
FOR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE TOGETHER
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Newly established Swedish Business Club aims to be the focal point for Swedish companies in Croatia, but also for Croatian partners with an interest in Sweden
The business forum in the autumn that will gather Swedish and Cro atian managers, institutions and experts, should be a springboard for the future cooperation.
The Swedish Business Club (SBC) was founded in March 2018 by nine Swedish companies, namely ABB, Astra Zeneca, Bisnode, Ericsson Nikola Tesla, IKEA, Ori flame, Saab, Securitas and Tele2, along with the Embassy of Sweden. The initiative for establishing the Club is multilayered, as is its purpose. It is by its nature a two-way channel between Sweden and Croatia - it is a club of Swedish stakeholders rooted in Croatia, and is thus perfectly placed to act as a cat alyst of ideas and opportunities for closer collaboration and a platform for establish ing deeper ties between the two countries. On the other hand, the Club aims to be the natural point of contact and an advocate
for Swedish businesses in Croatia, but also for Croatian businesses with an interest in Sweden. In essence, its goal is to act as a bridge that contributes to the strengthen ing of commercial, but also social and cultural, relations between Croatia and Sweden.
The base for the SBC is the Swedish Government's initiative known as „Team Sweden“ - a network of government au thorities, agencies and companies that work together to promote Swedish exports and support Swedish companies abroad. Team Sweden is an integral part of the Swedish Government’s Export Strategy published in 2015, and is envisaged as a platform for synchronizing promotional and communi cation activities in order to further strengthen “Brand Sweden”. The Swedish Business Club is thus a local implementation of the Team Sweden concept in Croatia that brings together “Swedish stakeholders” in the country.
The ultimate goal of Team Sweden is to create a joint venture between com patible Swedish actors and to bring about an increase in Swedish exports. However, Swedish companies, besides exporting goods and services, also export certain values that originate from the Swedish culture, and which are thus a part of their corporate DNA. These values are the cor nerstones of the Swedish socio-economic
model that include, but are not limited to, the principles of gender equality, diversity, respecting human rights, transparency, sus tainability, (corporate) social responsibility, and no tolerance for corruption.
Members of the SBC are gathered around the principles and values ingrained in Brand Sweden, which is characterized by four core values: innovation, caring, openness and authenticity. Therefore, only those candi dates who are guided by and who strive to implement these values in their busi nesses are considered for membership, because the Club’s pivotal role is preserv ing and strengthening those principles that represent the core of the „Swedish model“.
The actions and activities of the Swedish Business Club are to uphold and add value to Brand Sweden and standards contained within it. All of the Club's members are to advance and promote these values and prin ciples through their activities in the Club, as well as through their own operations. These core values are thus the starting point for all the activities and initiatives of the SBC, since they form the core of the Club's identity. The Swedish Business Club aims to provide a way for the Swedish companies and the Embassy of Sweden to increase synergies and synchronize the Swedish presence in Croatia, by collecting and uniting all Swedish
stakeholders around common goals and ob jectives; including the Embassy, Swedish companies in Croatia, Business Sweden, but also, as already mentioned, Croatian companies and institutions willing to join. Swedish Business Club in Croatia aims to advance the mutual benefits and promote tighter industrial and economic coopera tion through “bridge-building” and knowhow sharing between Croatia and Sweden.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CROATIAN INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS SIMILAR ASSOCIATIONS WITH WHOM IT SHARES ITS GOALS
The membership core of the SBC is, nat urally, the Swedish business community in Croatia, which is over 50 companies strong, but the Swedish family is wider than that as it includes a number of other actors with a strong Swedish connection. Still, the mem bership is thus not limited only to Swedish companies, but is opened to all compa nies, institutions and individuals who are committed to the SBC’s set of values. The Club wants to engage all of those for whom these principles are a common denomi nator regardless of their origin, sector, or size. The critical importance is the commit ment to a constructive dialogue between the public and commercial sectors, based on furthering positive values and on lifting of the standards in business, be it in con nection with CSR, innovation, sustainability, fair competition or free trade.
The SBC views 2018 as a “Pilot year” – a period in which it will build its foothold and will fully establish its public profile, while ex panding its membership base. It will also initiate partnerships with Croatian institutions, as well as similar associations with whom it shares its goals for creating an ever more conducive business environment. To that end the Swedish Business Club will host a launching event to introduce itself to all the relevant stakeholders and partners in Croatia, as well as to gather support for its initiatives. The plan is to crown this year with a business forum in the autumn that will gather Swedish and Croatian companies, institutions and experts, which will be a springboard for the things to come in the future.
