• Business mingle highlights Stockholm opportunities
• French chamber promoting country’s fashion and food
• Stockholm ideal Nordic hub for Canadian firms
• AmCham Sweden busy ahead of election and anniversary
• German firms lining up for Stockholm projects
• London Olympics puts British businesses on winning track

German construction firms and companies specialising in energy efficiency and with expertise in joint building ventures are lining up to be a part of Stockholm’s ambitious green infrastructure projects, according to the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce.

“German companies are knocking on the door to contribute their world-leading technology,” Ninni Löwgren of the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce told the Swedish Wire.

Growing numbers of city planners contact the chamber to learn about the concept of “byggemenskaper”, which is a joint venture between several private households who plan and build a house together. Joint building venture – Baugemeinschaft – is common in Germany and is a small but growing phenomenon in Sweden.

New projects in Stockholm offer great opportunities to companies operating in the field of construction. They include Norra Djurgårdsstaden, a new eco-neighbourhood that is being built on the site of former docks and industrial area of the city, and the so-called Million Program suburbs, an ambitious housing programme implemented between 1965 and 1974.

The northern link project, a motorway in Stockholm, already involves a large number of German companies, Löwgren pointed out.

However, construction is far from the only area of interest for German companies doing business in Sweden. When asked which areas German companies find the most exciting business openings in at the moment, answers ranged from retail, food and fashion to high-tech electronics, like ICT, vehicle technology, chemical products, health care and medtech.

Armed with a staff of 50, the chamber helps member companies with issues like strategy, market analysis and making contacts. It also offers practical assistance in areas such as PR, accounting, contracts and making sure “everything is done according to Swedish law”.

In November, the chamber plans to organise a number of events. They include a half-day seminar on Germany’s energy market transition, with explanations about the country’s new energy policies, a rail technology get together and a study tour looking at German sustainable city planning.
The chamber is one of the organisers behind the annual networking event with the City of Stockholm 25 October.

“This event attracts the decision makers and is very appreciated by our German member companies,” Malin Johansson of the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce said. “Those executives, who have been a part of the program as a panel participant, have reported better relationships with the politicians of the city of Stockholm.”

– – –

This article was published in collaboration with Stockholm Business Region.

More news about Stockholm?
Subscribe to Invest in Stockholm Newsletter today.