Sweden seeks new partnerships in KSA

Members of the Saudi-Swedish Business Council hold a meeting to discuss economic relations between the two countries in Stockholm on Thursday. (SPA)

STOCKHOLM: Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has stressed the importance of developing innovation, education and commerce jointly with Saudi Arabia.

“It is essential that we have an agreement and partnership between Sweden and the Kingdom, and it is important to develop our partnerships in the joint innovation, education and commerce," the Swedish premier is quoted to have said by SPA.
He made the remark during the Saudi-Swedish Business Council, headed by council Chairman Ghassan Al-Suleiman, currently on a visit to Sweden, and the presence of the Charge D'affaires of the Saudi Embassy to Sweden, Hassan Al-Murshed.
Emphasizing that the Kingdom remains one of the most important economic partners of Sweden, Lofven outlined the depth of relations between the two countries, and their growing friendship and partnership for economic development.
Lofven said: "The Kingdom of Sweden has an excellent relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and there are talks and efforts between the two sides to expand the volume of trade and investment, and there are steps and initiatives, and I am convinced that we can do more business relations, and we will support to achieve this."
He described the Saudi-Swedish Joint Business Council as a proof of the partnership between the two countries.
The premier added that the industrial and commercial cooperation between the two kingdoms over the years contributed to support the development and commercial activity between the two sides in various fields since the bilateral trade reached $6.8 billion in 2014.
When asked how Sweden could support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the premier said: "It is essential that we have an agreement and partnership between the two countries. We aspire for cooperation between both sides to promote the accomplishment of the objectives and aspirations of which both sides seek to achieve.”
He said a study on the areas required to guide Swedish companies before entering the Saudi market was conducted and “we discussed the increase of training volume for Saudi youth, in addition to cooperation in the promotion of Saudi small and medium-sized enterprises, a matter that requires mutual visits and a continuous dialogue."