Dragon News! - Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China

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M E M B E R M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E S W E D I S H C H A M B E R S O F C O M M E R C E I N G R E AT E R C H I N A
H O N G K O N G | B E I J I N G | S H A N G H A I | TA I P E I
No.03
2014
22
Thomas
Ekberg
Helping
people
fulfill their
dreams
24
Joel Adrian
Fighting
with
celebrities
28
Bonnie
Roupé
An
innovator
and a
conscious
capitalist
Sweden
shows off
its design
muscle
In December, Sweden will be the partner country
at Asia’s leading annual design, innovation and
brand event. Sweden will showcase its design
strength, which amounts to much more than
just IKEA and H&M.
Publisher
The Swedish Chambers of Commerce
in Hong Kong and China
For advertising inquiries, please contact
respective chamber’s office
The opinions expressed in articles in Dragon News
are those of the authors and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the publisher.
Editorial management, design and printing
Bamboo Business Communications Ltd
Tel: +852 2838 4553
Fax: +852 2873 3329
www.bambooinasia.com
[email protected]
Art director: Johnny Chan
Designer: Victor Dai
English editor: Chris Taylor
Cover photo: Design S/Svensk Form
INQUIRIES
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Room 2503, 25/F, BEA Harbour View Centre
56, Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2525 0349
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.swedcham.com.hk
General Manager: Eva Karlberg
Marketing Manager: Louise Herrlin
Finance Manager: Anna Mackel
CONTENTS
No.032014
6
4
Editorial
6
Gallery:
Swedish Design S award winners
8
Snippets
10 Cover story:
Sweden shows off its design muscle
22 Executive talk: Thomas Ekberg
24 Young Professional interview:
Joel Adrian
28 Feature: Bonnie Roupé
INQUIRIES
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China
Room 313, Radisson Blu Hotel
6A, East Beisanhuan Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100028, People’s Republic of China
Tel: +86 10 5922 3388, ext 313
Fax: +86 10 6464 1271
Web: www.swedishchamber.com.cn
Office Manager Beijing: Karin Roos
Webmaster: Jaycee Yang
Finance Assistant: Klara Wang
30 Chamber activities in Hong Kong
Shanghai contact
Office Manager Shanghai: Marianne Westerback
Event Manager: Emma Gunterberg Sachs
Tel: +86 21 6217 1271
Fax: +86 21 6217 0562
Mobile: +86 1368 179 7675
38 Chamber news
Taipei contact
Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei
Room 1101 International Trade Building
333, Keelung Road, Sec 1, Taipei 11012
Tel: +886 917 757 657
Web: www.swedchamtw.org
CEO: Louise Byström
10
22
32 Chamber activities in Beijing
34 Chamber activities in Shanghai
36 Chamber activities in Taipei
28
42 New members
48 After hours
50 The chamber and I:
Members view on healthcare
ADVERTISERS
APC Logistics page 35, Asia Perspective page 21, Atlas Copco page 37
Bamboo page 27, B&B Tools page 51, Finnair page 2
Environmental Air of Sweden (EAS) page 49, Ericsson page 19,
Executive Homes page 47, Geodis Wilson page 17, Greencarrier page 20
Thank you!
APC Logistics
for your immense generosity shipping and distributing
Dragon News in China, Hong Kong, Asia and Sweden.
Radisson Blu page 18, Scania page 9, SEB page 5, Sigtuna Boarding School page 43
Iggesund Paperboard
for being the proud sponsor for the paperboard
cover sheet of Dragon News magazine in 2012.
Cover printed on Invercote® Creato 220gsm.
Swedbank page 41, Unimer page 47, Vinge page 33, Volvo page 39
The Swedish Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and China
Handelsbanken page 52, Hellström page 49, Iggesund Paperboard page 45
IKEA page 25, Mannheimer Swartling pages 31, Nordea page 48
DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014 3
Jon Hicks/Corbis/Scanpix
EDITORIAL
When it’s time to do business,
we’re exceptionally open.
Katarina Nilsson
Chairman
Swedish Chamber of
Commerce in China
Ulf Ohrling
Chairman
Swedish Chamber of
Commerce in Hong Kong
The recipe for creativity
Dear Reader,
At a time when traditional industrial jobs are
decreasing in Sweden, creative industries are
growing. Swedish enterprises that broadly
focus on fashion and design, such as IKEA
and H&M, are experiencing huge success
around the world and not least in China. The
Swedish gaming and IT industry is another
example, with forerunners such as Skype,
Spotify, King (Candy Crush Saga), Mojang
(Minecraft), among others.
Swedish enterprises engaged in the
creative industries have provided hundreds
of thousands of jobs – a great deal of them
manufacturing jobs in China. Through
creative industries, not only Swedish design
but also Swedish lifestyle concepts are
spreading to the Chinese laobaixing, as
common Chinese people become increasingly
familiar with Billy bookshelves, and the names
of the tiny villages in Sweden that lend their
names to IKEA products. Swedish enterprises
make it possible to have good design and
fashionable clothes at affordable prices –
perhaps perceived by the Chinese consumers
as an act of rén, or benevolence, in a society
increasingly marked by a division between
the common people and the super – and
sometimes quite literally filthy – rich, and in
which the cost of living is rising rapidly.
The transition from industrial
manufacturing to an economy increasingly
based on creativity seen in Sweden is a
transition high on the wish list of the Chinese
government, a move from “made in China”
to “created in China”. The Chinese are
traditionally accused of not being creative,
only good copycats.
As representatives of the Swedish
chambers, we are occasionally unofficially
asked by Chinese government officials what
it takes for creativity to thrive. The honest
answer is that it is not an easy recipe to
reproduce. After all, Sweden’s creativity stems
from the fact it is an open and free society
that is open to foreign influences. Sweden
also has a great engineering tradition driven
more by pride in invention and skill than pure
eagerness to make fast money.
Swedes are lucky in that they do not
need to worry about meeting daily needs
and they have time to engage in interests
that sometimes lead to great inventions and
innovations. Research has shown that money
is not the answer to creativity once basic needs
are met, and the following key factors are the
main drivers: challenge – to improve; mastery
– to become really good at something; selfdirection – for the individual to decide on
what to do and how; and a sense of a purpose
(other than simply money).
Meanwhile, the question about creativity
gives rise to other questions. Is real creativity
possible in a society that lacks total openness
and freedom for its citizens? Does the Chinese
education system promote creativity or does
it stifle it by teaching that there is only one
correct answer? Is self-direction a trait that
is promoted when collective thinking is the
norm? Are mistakes and trial and error – vital
to the creative process – considered acceptable
in China? Is it actually true that the Chinese
lack creativity?
It is a fair conclusion to say that the Chinese
are basically no less creative than any other
nationality. Who in the world is more creative at
finding ways around rules and regulations than
the Chinese, for example? However, when it
comes to the explosion of the number of patents
and patent applications in China, it is fair to
question whether it is the result of genuine
creative skills, or rather the skills of consultants
that assist companies to achieve tax incentives
tied to research and development.
As is the case for successful Swedish
companies in the creative industries, it will
take a healthy mix of creativity and a good
business sense to commercially utilise creative
ideas. Moreover, it is likely that for these ideas
to work it will be necessary to promote the
right to think in new and different ways –
true creativity does not come about through
mere purchasing power or tax incentives.
Every business has a different story and a different goal. We understand that.
Over many years in this market of unique opportunities, we’ve developed the
local knowledge, resources and connections needed to turn ambitions into
reality. That’s why we’re one of the most well-established northern European
banks in the region. For corporates, financial institutions and private banking
clients, we’re ready to listen and cater to your needs – in Beijing, Shanghai,
Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi.
Discover more at www.sebgroup.com/asia
4 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2014
More Design S winners
in this issue
Swedish Design S
award winners
Design S is Sweden’s national design award.
Design S singles out creative and innovative
solutions in every imaginable area of products,
services and environments, regardless of the design
field. The award has been presented every second
year since 2006. Design S rewards both designers
and companies. Nominees are included in a touring
exhibition, which will come to Hong Kong during
Business of Design Week in December this year.
Delta 26 Open
Client: Delta Power Boats
Design: Ted Mannerfelt, Mannerfelt Design Team
Jury statement: “Even in the world of boating,
the Delta 26 stands out with its space-saving
charm. From stem to stern, it exudes a maritime
identity of classic seaworthiness combined with
futurism and elegance. Vigorous down to the
smallest detail.”
Cover: Verk, Fä, Havet and Frank
Client: Snickeriet
Design: Karl-Johan Hjerling, Karin Wallenbeck
Jury statement: “An uncompromising and
beautiful furniture range whose every
component functions equally well on its own.
A poetic choice of materials combined with
craftsmanship and a personal care for details
creates objects without the usual compromises
of serial production. A range of art furniture,
which also calls into question the concepts of
functionality … weight and lightness.”
Photo: Design S/Svensk Form SOURCE: design-s.se
Braille Box
Client: Index Braille
Design supplier: SKAPA
Design: Jens Kallin, Max David Eriksson
Jury statement: “Braille Box is a
masterpiece of industrial design,
beautiful to feel, hear and look at.
A wholly consistent answer to a
difficult design challenge that, with
obviousness and elegance, creates
both user experience and export
successes.”
Panthera X
Client: Panthera
Design: Leif Thies, Gestalt
Industriell Design; Mikael Engblom,
2dD; Björn Alvtegen, Alvtegen
Design; Jalle Jungnell and Per
Mårtensson, both Panthera.
Jury statement: “A user experience
with a strong sense of freedom.
Panthera offers delightfully easy
propulsion and driving pleasure. An
ultra-light seat/vehicle that truly
frees its rider.”
Bolon Create
Client: Bolon
Design: Marie Eklund
Jury statement: “Rugged
plastic flooring with a
fascinating three-dimensional
look and base material in vinyl
using recyclable raw materials
with the highest possible
wear resistance. Gliding,
shifting patterns depending
on how the light falls or where
in the room you are standing.
Very much alive, this floor is
worth a starring role.”
Kaskad
Client: Nola Industrier AB
Design: Björn Dahlström
Jury statement: “With an obvious
economy of materials Kaskad fills a
hole in the range of available seating
furniture for outdoor use. The form
is inviting and encompassing, and
the seating comfort is high, with or
without cushions. Here is an easy
chair that asserts its presence
without arresting the gaze. Equally
self-evident as a solitary chair for
lounging in the garden arbour or as
an easily placed complement to an
outdoor café.”
Herbarium
Client: Kasthall
Design: Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg
Jury statement: “With its kaleidoscopic pattern and a
three-dimensional textile experience, Herbarium creates
the impression of a poem in the form of a floor rug. With
a personal feel, a pattern is created on the floor that
conjures up a tapestry in a fine salon. A pattern that can
be viewed for a long time and, like a pressed flower or
classic haute couture, survives season after season.”
Page 10: Kaleido
Client: Hay (Denmark)
Design: Clara von Zweigbergk
Jury statement: “A strict system [of steel
trays] with lively combination possibilities.
Simple and ingenious, with a clever production
technique. This design with its purity of style is
hugely attractive and will live for a long time.”
EzyStove
Client: Creative Entrepreneur
Solutions (Namibia)
Design: August Michael, Elisabeth
Ramel-Wåhrberg, Håkan Bergkvist,
Mårten Andrén, Stefan Strandberg,
Jonas Dolk, Ergonomidesign
Jury statement: “A stove innovation
that, with an ingenious woodfeeding system and high energy
efficiency, can make it easier to
cook food over an open flame
anywhere in the world. Major health
benefits at a low-production cost
saves lives and the environment.”
Page 11: OP-1
Client: Teenage Engineering
Design: Teenage Engineering
Jury statement: “One wants to press all
the buttons and turn every control [of
this portable synthesizer]. A technological
product that, through a clever colour scheme
and fantastic graphics, is intuitive, easily
accessible and incredibly inviting. Music and
machine in one.”
C r e at i v e S n i p p e t s
A great place for micro-brands
n In 1951, a Police Married Quarters (PMQ) building was
constructed on Hong Kong Island, close to the former Central
Police Station, as a dormitory for young police officers, since
the influx of refugees to Hong Kong after the revolution in
China two years earlier had created a need for more officers
to maintain the law.
Today, the PMQ building has been converted to
a creative hub with a focus on design.
One of the tenants on the sixth floor in the
PMQ building is C’monde Studios, run and owned by
Johan M Persson, a Swedish native who has been
working in Hong Kong for the past decade and
has a more than 20-year track record of brand and
design management in Europe, the US and China. He
was recently ranked by the website theculturetrip.com
as one of the Top 10 product designers in Hong Kong.
Persson thinks that the Hong Kong government,
together with the Hong Kong Design Centre and the
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, are doing the right
things when it comes to developing Hong Kong as a
creative hub in Asia.
“If you want to develop a city, you need to attract
educated and creative people. This is done by offering
a broad cultural platform. Look at New York, London
and Paris – they all have that,” he says.
Persson previously headed a Swedish design joint
QUOTE
“Design is
undoubtedly
part of the
fabric of society,
economy and
culture.”
Victor Lo, chairman of the
Hong Kong Design Centre,
in a message at the
centre’s website.
venture in Hong Kong but started C’monde – French slang for “this
world” – in 2009. The studio primarily works with western brands
and manufacturers in China.
“That is where our western background, location and
knowledge can add most value. We also work with a range of
creative freelancers in different fields to broaden our service
offerings,” he says.
C’monde works with the entire supply chain, from
sourcing factories to industrial design and product and
service branding.
“I’ve designed a lot of audio electronics and
because I’ve worked extensively with brands like
Sony Ericsson and I’m a musician and drummer in a
local band in Hong Kong, I can offer a lot of insight
into the design and development of these kinds of
products,” says Persson.
Hong Kong is known for its many so-called microbrands – that is small brands in niche markets. “There
are many smaller fashion brands in Sweden that could
have great opportunities if they established themselves
in Hong Kong, where many distributors are screaming
for unique and creative brands to fill the shop shelves
of the city’s many shopping malls,” says Persson.
“If you want to develop a city, you need to attract
educated and creative people,” says Johan M Persson.
Network for creative Swedes
n Hong Kong is a great place to be for companies
in creative industries. The city is multicultural,
it has excellent communications, several top
universities, and – not least – it is close to China,
where much of the production takes place.
Earlier this year, the Swedish Chamber of
Commerce in Hong Kong and Boris Design Studio
initiated the start-up of a network called Creative
Swedes in Hong Kong (see also page 40).
“The idea is to bring together Swedish creative
entrepreneurs and designers that are working
in Hong Kong and arrange meetings and events
on a regular basis,” says Katarina Ivarsson, who
founded Boris Design Studio in 2009 together with
Anna Karlsson.
Boris is a Hong Kong-based design studio
that primarily focuses on product design, identity
design and design research. They serve clients
from Asia, Europe and the US.
“The fact that we are dealing with such a
broad range of projects is something that truly
strengthens our knowledge of trends, materials
applications and production,“ says Anna Karlsson.
“The things we do within design research inspire
our product design projects and vice versa.”
“For overseas customers it’s a great advantage
to work with people that are already based in Hong
Kong. If there’s a problem in a factory in South
China we can be there in person within an hour to
check the quality,” says Anders P Hellberg, who is
The people behind the Creative Swedes in Hong Kong
network are, from left, Pontus Karlsson, Anna Karlsson,
Anders P Hellberg and Katarina Ivarsson.
responsible for product and packaging at Boris.
Ivarsson, Karlsson and Hellberg have linked up
with the entrepreneur Pontus Karlsson of Happy
Rabbit to get the Creative Swedes in Hong Kong
network started.
Pontus Karlsson’s firm, Happy Rabbit, was
established in Hong Kong in 2008. Happy Rabbit
is a fashion agency with offices in China, Thailand,
Portugal and Turkey as well. The company is
helping its clients not only with traditional sourcing
of apparel and accessories but also with productdesign development and quality control. Among
its clients are both big international brands, such
as Adidas and Columbia Sportswear, and Swedish
fashion brands like Acne and Gudrun Sjödén.
“The consumption patterns for fashion are
changing all the time and you need to act fast
and be perceptive. In that sense, Hong Kong is
a perfect place for spotting trends. You meet a
lot of people here, there are many trade fairs, it’s
really a hub for our industry,” says Karlsson.
In
Photo: Design S/Svensk Form
2012, Victor Lo, chairman of
the Hong Kong Design Centre,
which is the organiser of the
annual Business of Design
Week (BODW), approached Jörgen Halldin,
the Swedish consul-general in Hong Kong.
The event is Asia’s leading annual event on
design, innovation and brands.
Dr Lo explored if Sweden would like
to be considered as a partner country for
the BODW in 2014 which is an event that
normally takes place in the first week of
December.
Halldin brought it up with the Swedish
Ministry for Foreign Affairs and in the
summer of 2013 the Swedish government
decided to sign a letter of intent and join as
a partner country for the event in December
2014. Indication of partnership from
Sweden would include an exhibition, which
is now on its way, and a delegation with
high-level representation.
The Kaleido steel
trays are one of the
Design S awards.
In December, Sweden will be the partner country at Asia’s leading
annual design, innovation and brand event. Sweden will showcase its
design strength, which amounts to much more than just IKEA and H&M.
Text: Jan Hökerberg, Bamboo, [email protected]
Besides the actual event, which takes
place at the Hong Kong Convention and
Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), there will also
be opportunities for Swedish companies to
market themselves elsewhere in the city – for
example by opening so-called pop-up stores in
SoHo district’s former Police Married Quarters
(PMQ), which has recently been transformed
to a trendy hub for design entrepreneurs and
brands. The Swedish organisers estimate there
will be three to five Swedish pop-up stores and
also an exhibition in PMQ.
“The partnership will definitely benefit
Sweden as a nation and build our national
brand,” says Johan M Persson, creative
director and owner of C’monde Studios,
which in May this year moved to an office in
the PMQ building in Hong Kong (see article
on page 8).
The Swedish organisers are also looking
to use the event to develop the brand
Sweden in mainland China.
Over thousands of years of history, the Chinese
have formed a moral code that has played an important role in social development and progress.
These traditional virtues still have a great significance today, so for this year’s issues of Dragon
News, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce has
picked four of the virtues to serve as guiding
stars for the content of the magazine: l (proper
behaviour), xiào (filial piety), rén (benevolence)
and dé (a power that shows the way).
In this issue we have used rén as our inspiration. It is the foundational virtue of Confucianism
and stands for benevolence, humanity and goodness. In our cover story, we focus on Swedish
creativity and design, which is characterised by
simple lines, functionality and sustainable materials – that is, the good things in life.
“It’s our ambition that a third of the
Swedish speakers will also speak in Shenzhen,
Shanghai and Beijing,” says Halldin.
Swedish design is known to be sleek
and stylish. It uses simple lines, breathing
space and natural materials such as beech,
oak and walnut harvested from sustainably
managed forests.
As the journalist and author Nina
Kozel writes in her book Design: The
Groundbreaking Moments, “Typical for
Scandinavian design is beauty radiated
through light colour, the ample use of wood,
and minimalism and functionality.”
Blomdahl of the Swedish Society of
Crafts and Design says, “Our Swedish design
DNA is our culture, which started with
handicrafts. We have good schools and a
good education system, and Sweden has long
Photo: Design S/Svensk Form
Sweden
shows off its
design muscle
The OP-1 portable
synthesizer is one
of the awarded
designs in the
Design S exhibition.
A large delegation from Hong Kong
visited Sweden earlier this year to prepare for
the conference and study for speakers.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for
Sweden,” says Halldin. “One third of the
speakers will come from the partner country,
and Sweden will have a central place in
all the marketing of this event, which is
expected to attract more than 100,000
visitors – many of them professional
designers – from all around the world.”
Sweden’s participating theme is “Living
Design”, with the subtitle “Live it, Wear It,
Work it, Do it”.
Anna Blomdahl, project manager at the
Swedish Society of Crafts and Design (Svensk
Form), is leading the work of putting the
500 sq m exhibition together. “Svensk Form
has been asked by the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs to bring to Hong Kong the Design
S exhibition which feature the finalists
in the Swedish National Design Award
and the Grand Award of Design [Stora
Designpriset],” she says.
The Design S exhibition will be
joined by nine exhibitors, ranging from
multinational companies (Volvo, Scania,
Electrolux, IKEA, Ankarsrum) to consultants
(Sweco), suppliers (Interbuild) and regional
business organisations (Region Skåne,
Malmö city). The Region Skåne part will
also include several companies from the
region. Every exhibitor can bring their own
message to the exhibition.
Four Chinese
virtues (3)
Sweden would never had been
able to create such a huge
marketing platform in Asia on our own.”
Design is serious business
Jörgen Halldin, Sweden’s consul-general in Hong Kong
Edmund Lee of the Hong Kong Design Centre says that Hong Kong could be inspired by Sweden’s
creative mindset as one of the most innovative countries in the world.
The Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) was founded in 2001
by five leading design professional bodies in Hong Kong, with
government support. The HKDC aims to promote design as a
value-adding activity, raise design standards and foster designrelated education, raising Hong Kong’s profile as an innovation
and creative hub.
“Our public mission is to promote wider and strategic use of
design, embracing good design, design leadership, design mindset
and entrepreneurship,” says Edmund Lee, executive director of
the HKDC.
“Each year, we organise the Design for Asia Award
competition, which gives us a good opportunity to observe design
trends in Asia. We also run the Design Incubation Programme,
which aims at nurturing entrepreneurs and design start-ups in the
InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong. The annual international Business
of Design Week (BODW) is our flagship programme to foster
knowledge exchange, networking and international partnership,”
he says.
Photo: Johan M Persson
The former Police
Married Quarters
(PMQ) in Soho in
Hong Kong is a
design hub for
creative industries.
US$
published his book The Rise of the Creative Class about how
being known as an innovative country.”
creativity was emerging as a common element shaping
Swedes also spend much more time in their homes
America’s economy, geography, communities and jobs.
compared to people in warmer countries because in
Ten years later, upon the publication of a revised
Sweden it’s dark and cold for long stretches of the year.
edition of his book, Florida concluded in an interview in
Blomdahl adds, “Swedes are good at innovations due
the US News and World Report:
to our geography but also due to our historical traditions.
“We had three great ages in recent history. The first
Beautiful everyday goods has been a slogan for almost a
was the modern Agricultural Age, and we made progress
100 years.”
in agriculture. Then we shifted from the Agricultural Age
She also points out that Sweden has a broader
to the Industrial Age, and that created the great economic
concept of design than many other countries.
World trade in creative
revolution and propelled the United States to dominance.
“We regard everything around us as influenced by
goods and services in
But now over the past three or four decades, we have
design – for example, how a patient experiences healthcare
2011, according to the
shifted to the Creative Age. We saw that beginning to
from arriving in hospital until leaving it,” she says.
United Nations.
happen in 1980.”
Jan Staël von Holstein, a Swedish professor and
The United Nations Conference on Trade and
branding consultant based in London who has spent
Development (UNCTAD) has published a report that notes that
part of the past decade in China teaching at Chinese universities, says,
creative industries have emerged as a key driver of economic growth
“Swedish design is synonymous with our lifestyle. It’s a way of living
and that “globalisation and connectivity are benefitting the creative
life. It’s practical, democratic, aesthetic, sustainable and also affordable.”
industries of developing and developed countries.
“Linking business, culture and technology, the creative economy
The creative economy is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of
holds potential for developing countries to transform untapped creative
the world economy, generating income, creating jobs and export earnings.
resources into growth,” UNCTAD said in a press release some years ago.
In 2013, a special edition of the United Nations Creative Economy
UNCTAD’s definition of creative industries embraces activities
Report showed that the world trade of creative goods and services totalled
ranging from traditional folk art, cultural festivities, books, paintings,
a record of US$624 billion in 2011, more than doubling since 2001.
music and performing arts to more technology-intensive sectors, such as
In 2002, Richard Florida, an American professor, author and editor,
624
billion
Why is it called Business of Design Week?
“Our concept is very visionary. We call it Business of Design
Week, not just Design Week like so many similar events around
the world, because of our overall positioning of Hong Kong as
a financial centre and a centre of professional services, which
signifies our promotion and recognition of design as serious
business.”
You have chosen Nordic countries as partners several times. Why?
“When we started, it is natural we worked with innovative
economies and the Nordic countries have a history when it
comes to innovation and design. The BODW’s concept is to
enlighten executives and designers about what is happening
around the world. So we always look for the most innovative
business models, stunning design and branding projects that
can capture people’s minds and enrich our culture of innovation
and creativity.”
What is the purpose of having a partner country?
“Each year it gives us one third of the content. The rest comes
from previous and future potential partners. The BODW is very
comprehensive. We’re not just creating an exhibition or event
but one with rich contents that spans across different design
disciplines, branding in Asia, design education, technology
for design, culture in the city, and so on. This gives us the
opportunity to scan the industry for all areas where good design,
a design mindset and design thinking can create value for our city
and economy.”
As part of the preparations for this year’s event, you also went
to Sweden. What was your impression?
“Sweden is a very clean and sustainable country, where the
government and the people recognise the importance of
innovation. Many interesting innovations are coming out of
Sweden in the areas of industrial products, healthcare and
social media. Sweden also has many corporations and brands –
household names that are known worldwide – that contribute to
the global economy.
“When we talk to the creative minds behind brands such as
Volvo and Scania, we find that they don’t just see themselves
manufacturing products; they also see themselves as creators of
future transportation or mobility solutions.
“We visited Ericsson, which has managed to maintain a very
strong position in the highly competitive telecommunications
industry. From the people who briefed us there, we understood
that innovation for them is a natural state of mind and part of the
organisational culture.
“We had the same feeling when we talked with policy makers,
brand owners, corporate executives and creative directors and
designers. This mindset is really something we would like to bring
to the fore in Hong Kong.”
What in your opinion characterises a good and creative design?
“Good design to us is striking a connection with users – design
goes beyond aestetics; it’s about emotionally making people
sense usability and functionality. It has to be usable, look good
and be almost embedded with clean and sustainable concepts,
because we are all part of a global village. All good design
these days embraces this spirit. But you also need to have the
capability to turn big ideas into innovation that is highly cherished
by the users.”
When we started, it is natural we
worked with innovative economies
and the Nordic countries have a history
when it comes to innovation and design.”
“This [Swedish]
mindset is really
something we
would like to
bring to the fore
in Hong Kong,”
says Edmund
Lee of the Hong
Kong Design
Centre.
Swedish fashion both practical and trend-concious
Mention Swedish fashion and most people start to think of H&M, a
retail chain that opened its first store in Sweden in 1947 and now has
more than 100,000 employees in over 3,000 stores in 48 countries.
Being such a world-famous brand, H&M has been able to attract worldfamous designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Jimmy
Choo, as well as introducing collections by singers such as Beyoncé,
Madonna and Kylie Minogue.
But H&M has also become a breeding ground for young designers.
Several of today’s most successful Swedish fashion designers have
worked for H&M at some point.
Over the past decade, fashion brands and designers such as Acne,
Anna Holtblad, Ann-Sofie Back, Carin Wester, Cheap Monday (today
owned by H&M), Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Filippa K, Hope, House
of Dagmar, Ida Sjöstedt, J.Lindeberg, Nudie Jeans, Odd Molly, WeSC
(WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy), Whyred and others have entered
global markets.
Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
Swedish fashion brands are entering the international
catwalk, with H&M leading the way.
Swedish fashion designers often embrace
sustainable fashion.
Photo: Sofia Sa
bel/im
agebank.swede
n.s
1947
Set up in 1979 to promote Swedish fashion in Sweden and abroad, the
Swedish Fashion Council analyses trends in fashion and interior design,
and is a platform for cooperation in the Swedish fashion and textile trade.
Twice a year, it organises Stockholm Fashion Week, focusing
on drawing the attention of the international fashion community –
including the media and fashion buyers – to the Swedish fashion scene.
The council is also running the Rookies project, established to
support small fashion design companies. The labels selected by the
Rookies jury are presented at exhibitions, shows and other events.
several Swedish fashion
brands that have expanded
internationally.
Swedish design is
synonymous with our
lifestyle. It’s a way of living life.”
Photo: Gerhard Jörén
Jan Staël von Holstein, professor
design and the audio-visual industry, including film, television and radio. It
also includes service-oriented fields, such as architecture, advertising and new
media products, such as digital animation and videogames.
Although developed countries in Europe and North America dominate
the global market for creative products, exports of creative goods from other
parts of the world have increased substantially. For more than a decade, China
has been the world’s leading exporter of creative goods. China’s exports not
only reflect its ability to create, produce, and trade a mixture of traditional
and high-tech creative products, but also the fact that many creative goods
produced and exported by China are created or designed in other countries.
UNCTAD also mentions India’s movies and software, Mexico’s TV stations
and South Korea’s digital animation products as good examples of success.
e
Besides being trend-conscious, Swedes also have a very practical
approach to clothes. When Swedes dress up, they don’t dress up too
much. There is not such a difference between how they dress at work,
in their time off and at parties.
Sustainability is also a key word in Swedish fashion. An industry
organisation, the Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA), has been founded
to initiate activities that will accelerate sustainable apparel innovation
over the next decade.
Brands such as the shoe company Swedish Hasbeens are producing
sustainable collections using traditional methods in small factories,
emphasising respect for people and the environment.
One of the pioneers of sustainable fashion is Gudrun Sjödén, who
launched her company of the same name in 1976.
Her business idea is to produce colourful home
textiles and clothes made from natural materials,
using functional models that suit all ages and
figures. Environmental thinking plays a role in all its
The year when H&M opened its
collections.
first store – in Västerås, Sweden.
The oldest Swedish fashion brand is probably
Tiger of Sweden, which was founded as early as
1903. It marketed something completely new – mass-produced suits
– and met with success. After some ups and downs, the company
redefined its profile in the late 1990s. The idea was to take suits out
of corporate offices and onto the streets. In 1997, Tiger released
its first women’s collection, followed in 2000 by the launch of Tiger
Nudie Jeans is one of
Jeans. Today, the brand has a Danish owner.
The Hong Kong government has identified creative industries as
one of the city’s most important economic drivers.
In 2001, the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) was established
as a strategic partner of the government for promoting Hong Kong as
an international design hub in Asia. Its annual highlight is organising
Business of Design Week (see separate article).
In 2009, a HK$300 million CreateSmart Initiative (CSI) was
established to provide financial support to projects with objectives
that are in line with the strategic aim of driving the creative
industries.
Hong Kong is also developing a number of cultural initiatives,
such as the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is a major
infrastructure project to boost cultural development in Hong Kong.
The former Police Married Quarters (PMQ) in Soho is already a
design hub for creative industries. The former Central Police Station
together with the former Victoria Prison will become an arts hub
when the projects are completed next year. Together with the old
Central wet market, which will be a platform for exhibitions, they
will all form what is to be called The Cultural Triangle in Hong Kong.
But how will Sweden know whether being a partner country in
the Business of Design Week will be a long-term success in terms of
national branding in the region?
Sources: sweden.se, VisitSweden.
“Sweden has a target of 30 companies
actively participating in the event, and
that 70 per cent of them will get new
business contacts in the region,” says
Halldin. “We also hope that at least five
new educational cooperation agreements
will be conducted between Sweden and
Hong Kong.”
Halldin adds, “Sweden would never
have been able to create such a huge
marketing platform in Asia on its own”.
Staël von Holstein agrees.
Our Swedish design DNA
is our culture, which
started with handicrafts.”
Anna Blomdahl, Swedish Society of Crafts and Design
Entrepreneurial spirit
By making its hanger hooks and clips superior to its competitors, Petterssons Trading
have managed to seize half the global market.
Creativity and good design is not only a primary
characteristic of Swedish fashion and furniture,
but is also a cornerstone for many Swedish
industrial companies. Take Petterssons Trading
Sweden, for example. It is a world leader, with
a global market share of 40-50 per cent of
the two products it develops and produces –
hanger hooks and clips for garments.
“What makes us different from all our competitors is that we have developed products
with a higher corrosion resistance than anyone
else,” says Hans Ireståhl, CEO and co-owner
with a Dutch partner.
Hans Ireståhl, CEO of Petterssons, says that
the company will now expand to India.
Petterssons, which was founded in 1921, is
located in the Gnosjö region’s Hillerstorp in the
province of Småland, a region which is renowned
for its high number of small industries, enter-
Petterssons has about
half of the market share of
hanger hooks.
prises and high employment rate. An entrepreneurial hotbed, it is known for its “Gnosjö Spirit”.
“Petterssons grew quickly, first in the
1980s, when the hanger became a part of
entire logistics chain, from where a garment is
produced to where it is sold to the consumer.
Then, in the late 1990s, we had our big expansion, when the leading hanger manufacturers
followed their customers to Asia,” says Ireståhl.
Petterssons opened a representative office
in Hong Kong in 2000 and set up two factories in
Shenzhen in 2005 and 2006. A factory in Chennai in India is on its way and will open next year.
“We deliver our products to places where
the clothes are manufactured. From our Swedish factory, we support Europe, America and
Africa, from our Chinese factory, we supply all
countries east of Malaysia, and from the Indian
plant we’ll deliver to Bangladesh, India, Sri
Lanka and Pakistan,” says Ireståhl.
“Our philosophy is to strive for exclusive
contracts with the big retailers that buy
hangers from our customers. For example, we
deliver the hooks to all the hangers that H&M
uses,” he says.
Petterssons is also in the forefront when it
comes to sustainability. About five years ago,
the big retailers demanded that manufacturers
should reuse and recycle their hangers. Knowing
that the company’s strength over the years has
been to see where the market is heading, Petterssons now both reuse and recycle their hooks
and most of them can be used for about seven
“loops” from Asia to Europe and back again.
“Asians recognise IKEA and H&M, but they don’t know about
the depth of Swedish design. The partnership is a great opportunity
for Sweden to show its strength.”
Staël von Holstein has been lecturing about design and brand
management at universities in Shanghai and Beijing for a decade.
He has observed that Swedish design has got much more attention
over the past couple of years.
“Sweden has participated in plenty of seminars and exhibitions at
Chinese universities as well as in a big number of fashion shows. When
I first came to China 10 years ago, there were around 20 fashion shows
per year in the whole country; now it’s about 400. There were about
300 design schools a decade ago; now there are 1,500,” he says.
“However, a problem in China is that they don’t really have
any indigenous contemporary design yet. Look at furniture design,
for example. Chinese either tend to use inherited furniture from
parents or buy copies of European furniture, but they seldom have
any of their own ideas about how to decorate a home. In this field,
IKEA plays a big role, with its smart and functional interior-design
solutions,” says Staël von Holstein.
“But if 500 designers from every one of the 1,500 design
schools graduate each year, we will definitely see a number of
influential Chinese designers,” he adds. “It will be interesting to
see how they can combine modern design with their long cultural
traditions.” b
A world leader in gaming
Are you addicted to Candy Crush on your phone or tablet? Blame the Swedes
– they are producing one game after another.
Some of the world’s most popular and innovative mass-market
breakthrough came in 2002 when they introduced the Battlefield
games played on mobile phones and tablets, computers and
series for both computers and consoles such as PlayStation and
video game consoles are developed in Sweden.
XBox. In 2006, US game developer Electronic Arts acquired DICE.
Take Candy Crush Saga, for example. King Digital EntertainIn 2009, Markus Persson founded a game studio in Stockment, a company founded in Sweden in 2003,
holm called Mojang. It became famous after
launched the addictive game in 2011. Candy
launching Minecraft, which allows players
Crush quickly became extremely popular,
to construct objects from textured cubes in
hitting the No 1 game spot on Facebook in
a 3D-generated world. Recently, Microsoft
January 2013.
purchased Mojang at the astonishing price of
In March 2014, King completed its initial
US$2.5 billion.
public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock
In 1997, Massive Entertainment launched
Exchange. The IPO valued the company at
in Malmö, Sweden, 10 years later releasing a
more than US$7 billion. King is now headgame called World in Conflict, which is about
quartered in London and led by an Italian,
the Cold War. French game-developer Ubisoft
Riccardo Zaccone, one of the seven founders
acquired the company in 2008, and in 2013 it
The Swedish gaming industry’s
of the company. All of them have their roots
released a popular role-playing game called
turnover in 2012.
in a much-hyped Swedish Internet company
Tom Clancy’s The Division.
called Spray during the dot-com boom.
EA Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment (DICE) was
Sweden’s gaming industry has grown fast, and turnover in 2012
founded in 1992 by five students at Växjö University in Sweden.
was SEK3,700 million according to the Game Developer Index 2012.
They developed some popular games for computers, but their
One reason for so much development is that Swedes were
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Candy Crush Saga, created by
Swedes, is the most popular
game on Facebook.
early adopters of home computers. In the 1980s and 1990s,
the Swedish government provided subsidies for its citizens to
lease computers from their employers to use at home.
Broad internet access has also long been high on the
government’s agenda. As of October 2013, 99 per cent of all
households and companies in Sweden had access to broadband
via 4G, according to a broadband survey by the Swedish Post
and Telecom Authority (PTS).
Sweden’s success also has to do with its focus on education and innovation. Sweden was an earlier pioneer in including
gaming as part of university curricula, with the first programme
starting at Gotland University in 2001. This has made gaming
studies, research facilities and institutes both accessible and
acceptable. One of the recruiting grounds for Swedish gaming
companies is the computer game development programmes offered at Swedish universities. At the University of Skövde alone,
around 500 students are waiting to put their skills to use.
The fact that Swedish games companies are grounded in solid
technical expertise gives them a competitive edge, according
to Staffan Björk, senior gameplay researcher at the Interactive
Institute Swedish ICT in Gothenburg and associate professor at
the University of Gothenburg.
“There is a correlation between Sweden’s success in game
development and its research community. Scandinavia as
a whole is a huge centre for gaming research, so we have a
very high density of game developers compared with other
countries,” Björk told the website sweden.se.
Another face of Swedish gaming success can be found
on YouTube. Felix Kjellberg, better known as Pewdiepie, is a
Swedish video game commentator. Specialising in the horror
and action video game genres, his YouTube channel became
the most subscribed channel in August 2013. By March 2014,
the number of his subscribers had passed 24 million. b
We call our long-term responsibility
the Greencarrier Spirit
International transportation the Greencarrier way
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Ad Dragon News June 2014.indd 1
2014-05-28 09:39:45
Helping people
fulfill their
dreams
If you’ve lived once in Hong Kong, it’s
easy to have an urge to come back.”
After graduating,
Thomas Ekberg
went to Hong Kong
for his first job. Now
he is back, in big
business, responsible
for cosmetics group
Oriflame’s operations
in Asia, the Middle
East and Africa.
If
not for coincidence, 43-year old
Thomas Ekberg would probably
not have spent most of his
grown-up life in Asia working
for companies such as H&M, Åhléns and, for
the past 15 years, Oriflame Cosmetics. Since
January this year, he is as senior vice president
heading the group’s global business area for
the strategic growth regions in Africa, the
Middle East and Asia.
He has chosen to locate himself in Hong
Kong, where 21 years ago he started his work career.
In the early 1990s, Ekberg saw a note
by a chance about a student exchange
programme in Hong Kong on a bulletin
board at Stockholm University. He applied,
was selected and spent a term in Hong Kong,
where he also wrote his thesis. Both he and
a friend wanted to stay, so they opened the
Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s directory
and picked three companies each to contact.
One of the companies that Ekberg picked was
H&M and his application was accepted.
Thomas Ekberg leads an event for top
performing sales consultants at a resort
hotel on the Chinese island of Hainan for
more than 900 people in February 2014.
[In China} 100 per cent of all
orders are placed online.”
It meant that immediately after graduating
in business administration in Stockholm in
1993, Ekberg was able to return to Hong
Kong and start work sourcing accessories in
China for H&M.
“It was an exciting time and I stayed for
three-and-a-half years. Then I had a short stint
at Optima Batteries selling their starter batteries
in Asia, after which I was appointed managing
director at the Swedish retail chain Åhléns’
sourcing office in Hong Kong,” says Ekberg.
After two years with Åhléns, another
coincidence led him to Oriflame. He had
met the Swedish journalist Agneta Engqvist
a couple of times and she tipped him off
about a job advertisement she had seen in
a newsletter. He got the job – managing
director of Oriflame’s entity in Indonesia,
which had opened in 1986.
Oriflame, which was founded in Sweden
in 1967 by two brothers – Jonas and Robert
af Jochnick – and their friend Bengt Hellsten,
produces cosmetics and relies on independent
sales consultants to sell their products. Last
year, the group’s turnover was EUR1,380
million (close to CNY11 billion).
The company was ahead of its time when
it was founded, souring the ingredients for its
products from nature, and doing so 10 years
before Body Shop was founded.
“I’d never worked with cosmetics, but
3
head of Asia and stationed in
I’d done some part-time direct
Bangkok. In 2010, he became
selling for an American water
responsible for Europe, Middle
filter company while I was in
East and Africa and worked
Hong Kong,” says Ekberg.
from the company’s regional
When he came to Indonesia
office in Warsaw, Poland.
in 2000, it was soon after
Russia is the company’s
the Asian financial crisis had
The number of
biggest market, but the
played havoc with the country’s
independent sales
current Ukraine crisis has, of
economy. “At many places in
consultants that
course, negatively affected the
Jakarta, I could see the destruction
Oriflame has worldwide.
business and also weakened
from the riots,” he says.
In Asia, Middle East and
the ruble. “It hurts me to see
At that time, Indonesia
Africa, the number is
our consultants suffer from
only had 5,000 Oriflame
about 1 million.
weakened economy due to the
consultants, but today it has
political crisis,” says Ekberg.
350,000 and is together with
China and India the key strategic growth
markets for Oriflame.
He describes Oriflame as a company that
offers two main products: beauty products
After another three-and-a-half years in
and the possibility to earn an income. The
Indonesia, he was in charge of the Indian
group has 3 million active consultants and
market for two years before he was appointed
million
7,500 employees – with 1 million consultants
and 2,000 employees in Asia, Middle East
and Africa – selling its beauty products in
62 countries worldwide. Around 95 per cent
of the consultants are women who build
networks and arrange parties for selling
the cosmetic and wellness products. The
consultants earn around 30 per cent on the
sales price, and when they invite others to
join, they earn money from their sales.
Oriflame arranges regular seminars and socalled incentive trips for the top-performing
consultants. When Dragon News met Ekberg
in September, he was preparing for such an
event for 1,700 participants who will fly to
Barcelona for an eight-day cruise trip and visit
different ports in Spain, France and Italy.
“Our business opportunity is described
as ‘Make money today and fulfil your dreams
tomorrow’. It means a lot to our consultants
when they have made a small extra income
as it can make a real difference in their daily
life, and of course even more so when they
earn enough money to buy their first car, flat
or can bring their mother on a trip abroad for
the first time,” says Ekberg.
The reason why he chose to base himself in
Hong Kong was simply to be able to focus on
the strategically important Chinese market and
that the city has excellent communications.
China is becoming an increasingly
important market for Oriflame. The company
got its first license in 2006 and it now has
offices in 20 cities. It has built two factories –
in Kunshan, close to Shanghai, and in Beijing.
China differs from other countries because
it is such an advanced country when it comes
to e-commerce. “One hundred per cent of all
orders are placed online and 80 per cent of
all our service support questions are handled
through WeChat,” says Ekberg.
In China, skincare is Oriflame’s strongest
product category, followed by wellness. In
Russia, the biggest market, and in Indonesia,
make-up products are the best-selling products.
Ekberg has established himself with his
wife Anna and their two sons, Alexander, 13,
and Sebastian, 10, in Repulse Bay on the Hong
Kong Island. After work, he likes to play tennis
or run even in the hot and humid climate.
“If you’ve lived once in Hong Kong, it’s
easy to have an urge to come back,” he says.
Ekberg was living in Hong Kong during
the handover, but he says he cannot see any big
differences since China took over. “It feels like
the expatriate community has grown much
more and that Hong Kong has become more
service-minded than before. I can also feel that
the entrepreneurial spirit is still here, and that’s
for me what Hong Kong is all about.” b
Fighting
with
celebrities
Joel Adrian has made a
career in China as an actor
and stuntman in action
movies starring some of
his childhood idols, such
as Jackie Chan.
Text: Alexander de Freitas, [email protected]
Joel Adrian has won a
Swedish championship
in wushu.
J
oel Adrian Slaatto, or simply Joel
Adrian, as he is known as an actor, is
something of a unique Swedish case
– an up-and-coming action-movie
performer and stuntman in China’s movie industry.
Even if his roles have been small so far, he
is playing roles in some of the biggest Chinese
productions ever alongside such renowned actors
as Adrien Brody, John Cusack (Dragon Blade, for
release in 2015), Nicolas Cage (Outcast, 2014) and
Chinese legend Jackie Chan (Dragon Blade and
Skiptrace, 2016).
Adrian grew up in Gothenburg on the Swedish
west coast, where he – and many young men like
him at the time – was introduced to China through
kung fu movies, popularised in the West through
stars such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
At that time, he had no idea that just a few years
later he would be trading blows on the big screen
with his idols. But Adrian’s interest in kung fu – or
gongfu, as it is known in China – was deeper than
most of his fellows. At 13, he started to train in
wushu – the traditional Chinese martial arts – and
at 16 he made his first trip to China, spending three
weeks practicing at Shaolin Monastery in Henan
Province.
In 2009, Adrian moved to Shanghai to continue
in his martial arts studies and also to learn Chinese
If you hurt
the movie
star it could really
impact the shoot.”
at Fudan University. After one year, he was awarded a scholarship to
complete a Chinese BA in broadcasting and journalism at Fudan.
In Shanghai, he continued training in wushu, and met someone
who belonged to a small circle of stuntmen who were working with
Jackie Chan. Adrian was encouraged to try out for some small parts,
and his first role was as an extra in the martial arts action movie Ip
Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster.
Other roles followed, and today, Adrian’s new career appears to
be on the up and up. Meanwhile, he is continuing his martial arts
training, winning a Swedish championship in wushu (staff combat),
as well as two university championship gold medals (staff and sword)
in Shanghai.
Dragon News talked to Adrian before he set off to the location on
the next movie production he will be part of.
“A lot of people want to get into the business, but it’s hard work
and you need to have a very clear focus, or you won’t be able to make
it,” he says.
“A lot of guys have this attitude where they’re just certain they’ll
get the role, especially if they’ve been in a lot of movies before,” says
Adrian. “They get too confident and don’t even bother to prepare
for the casting. Swedes are more down to earth and like to show our
abilities through hard work. For Skiptrace I trained for two weeks with
a friend just to be able to show some combat to the casting agents. In
the end I looked better than guys with mixed martial arts and boxing
experience, and I got the role.”
But landing a movie role is about more than martial arts skills.
“You have to learn how to fight with a celebrity,” says Adrian.
“It should look tough and real, but you’re not allowed to touch him.
A real fighter can’t do this. If you hurt the movie star, it could really
impact the shoot. A movie is an illusion. It’s fake, but you have to
make the audience believe that it’s real. The smallest mistake can break
that illusion.”
Adrian enjoys working with his childhood idols, even if,
occasionally, he has an attack of nerves.
“The first time I came onto the set and met Jackie Chan, he was
walking towards me, and he could see that I was a bit star-struck
and nervous, but he approached me and said ‘Welcome to the set,’”
says Adrian.
“Jackie Chan is great,” he adds. “He isn’t sitting in his trailer like
other celebrities, but is always running around the set to make sure
everything is in order for the shoot, down to the smallest details. He’s
talking to all the actors, big and small. During a shoot [Dragon Age], I
broke my foot and had to have it in a cast for two weeks. When I came
back to the set Jackie came to make sure everything was OK … even
changing some scenes to make it easier for me.
For Adrian, Chan’s act was a mark of respect – and encouragement.
Joel Adrian Slaatto in brief
Age: 25.
Occupation: Action actor and stuntman, full-time student in
broadcasting and journalism at Fudan University.
Lives: Shanghai.
Time in Shanghai: Five years.
Best thing about Shanghai: “A Chinese city but with many
western influences and culture.”
Worst thing about Shanghai: “Traffic, air pollution, noise pollution.”
Back in 1996, when mobile phones were
the size of bricks; before tablets, before 3G,
before Google even, Microsoft co-founder Bill
Gates wrote an article in which he foresaw the
importance of content on the Internet.
“Content is where I expect much of the real
money will be made on the Internet, just as it
was in broadcasting … Those who succeed will
propel the Internet forward as a marketplace
of ideas, experiences, and products – a
marketplace of content,” he wrote.
The American-Chinese action film Outcast, in which Joel Adrian (right) has a role as
a crusader, is due for release in October this year.
In one movie I play a
Russian gangster and
in the next I have to learn to
cry in front of the camera.”
He adds, “Each project is something new, and after a project is
finished you get a real sense of accomplishment. Then the next project
starts and it’s something completely different. In one movie I play a
Russian gangster and in the next I have to learn to cry in front of the
camera. Each project has new challenges.”
Sharing some tips for anyone who wants to pursue an acting career
in China, Adrian says, “In China, you have additional opportunities
to get into acting, especially if you can speak Chinese. You can get
the chance to start with some smaller TV shows and then work your
way up. The most important thing is to really have the interest and
act professionally. If you’re good, things can go great, but there’s no
security – you can go three months without any work. I don’t believe
that you have to be a born actor – anyone can learn. It’s tough work
with 14-hour days during shooting, but if you can handle it, it’s great.”
Meanwhile, Adrian is cautiously optimistic about the future.
“When you land a role in a bigger movie, you get to know people
who can introduce you to more work, and right now things are quite
good. I’d like to get things moving properly before finishing up my
studies. I’d need three or four bigger projects a year, or six to eight
smaller ones in order to be able to make a living in the industry. If it
doesn’t work out, I can see myself working behind the camera – in
film, or in media and advertising.”
Outcast is slated to premiere in October this year, with Dragon
Blade premiering on 17 February 2015. Skiptrace is slated for a 2016
release. b
For a glimpse of Joel Adrian performing, go to:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNjU2ODg1MDg4.html
Bill Gates was right. Today, 17 years later,
content marketing has become the art of
communicating with customers and prospects
without the hard sell. If you, as a company, can
deliver consistent, ongoing, valuable content
to buyers, ultimately they will reward you
with their business and loyalty.
Bamboo has been creating content in Hong Kong and overseas
from 1996 and in China from 2002 as a one-stop shop for its
customers. Here is what we can do: Customer magazines and
newsletters, internal magazines and newsletters, apps for iPad and
Android tablets, e-newsletters and websites, corporate video, marketing
materials for trade fairs, article assignments and photography,
interactive sales presentations, reader surveys, advertisements, etc.
We can do it in Simplified or Traditional Chinese and other
Asian languages, as well as in English.
Feel free to contact us to know more or to set up a meeting.
Jan Hökerberg, managing director
[email protected]
Johan Olausson, sales and marketing manager
[email protected]
Bamboo Business Communications
Ltd (Hong Kong) +852 2838 4553
Bamboo Business Consulting
(Shanghai) Co, Ltd +86 21 6472 9173
We make your company’s best stories come alive
www.bambooinasia.com
The entrepreneur
An innovator and
a conscious capitalist
I’m a person
who creates
things. If I want to do
something, I do it.”
Bonnie Roupé has launched a website in China, helping
pregnant women and parents with small children to easier
understand complicated medical terms.
could attract advertisers and make such an e-commerce
business website profitable.”
The website, or portal, is called Bonzun (www.bonzun.
com), and her company Bonzun Health Information – after
just four years – is already receiving support from the World
Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations’
Children’s Rights & Emergency Relief Organisation
(Unicef ), as well as from many leading Chinese hospitals
and the Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association,
with 3,700 clinics China-wide.
“The hospitals and the doctors are our ambassadors.
We have also created an app, which is being used to register
patient information at leading hospitals. China is digitalising
its healthcare system and we are already part of it,” she says.
While many organisations are supporting Bonzun –
mainly through providing knowledge and disseminating
information – Roupé has also attracted a number of serial
entrepreneurs, most of them Swedish, which are backing
Bonzun financially. She decided to enter the Chinese market
without a mainland partner.
“I would probably have got the license quicker with a
local partner, but it is more fun to do it yourself,” she says.
I would probably have
got the license quicker
with a local partner but it is
more fun to do it yourself.”
playing golf, so I founded one,” she says.
She ran the magazine from 2004 to 2009, describing the
experience as an “extremely fun time”. She sold it to the Swedish
Golf Association, which has now sold it to another owner.
At the time her second daughter, Charlie, was due
to be born in 2010, Roupé was diagnosed with
toxaemia of pregnancy, an abnormal condition
that is fatal in many parts of the world. She
After graduating as an economist, Roupé worked
was lucky to get emergency treatment and
at an IT firm in Stockholm and, among
both mother and daughter
other things, acted as a strategy consultant
were able to leave the
for Ericsson in the late 1990s – until the
hospital without any
IT bubble burst. She was married at the
complications.
time, but the marriage crashed as well, so
Today, Charlie,
Roupé decided she would do something
who is four years
totally different.
old, and her older
“I had my mid-life crisis as a 25-yearsister Jackie, who is
The annual number of
old, and I decided to sail across the Atlantic
six, are living with their
pregnant women in China.
from Greenland to Virginia in a 14.3-metre
mother in Shanghai’s
sail boat with seven other people that I didn’t
Jing’an District, where
know. That trip was extremely influential in terms of both a
Jackie attends school and Charlie goes to
personal and a career point of view. You learn to know who
kindergarten. Their father lives in Sweden.
you are and what you can do,” she says.
“Those days in hospital got me thinking
“I’m a person who creates things. If I want to do
about creating a website for pregnant women
something, I do it,” she adds.
that provides medical information that is easy to
After her sailing adventure, the first thing Roupé did
understand,” says Roupé.
was to start up a golf magazine for women called Red Tee.
“I was thinking of China as a start for many
“I’d done a stint at a design agency and had learnt
reasons. It’s a country where there are around 20 million
about both golf and magazines. I’d received a green card
pregnant women annually and many of them suffer
[certification] in golf and had found out that there wasn’t
during pregnancy and while giving birth. At the same time,
a magazine for the growing number of women who were
there are hundreds of millions of wealthy Chinese, which
20
million
Bonnie Roupé on …
Photo: Marie -Therese Karlberg/Shay
In
her Twitter account, Bonnie Roupé describes
herself as “innovator, serial entrepreneur
and a believer in conscious capitalism”.
With experiences as various as being part of
the bursting of the dot.com bubble in the early 2000s,
sailing across the Atlantic, launching a golf magazine for
women and introducing an advisory website for Chinese
pregnant women, she definitely qualifies to be called a true
entrepreneur.
Born in 1976, Roupé grew up in Stockholm, but at
the tender age of 15 she had already moved out of her
family home to start a life of her own. While studying, she
undertook several jobs at the same time – telephone sales,
selling meat at a supermarket, nail sculptor, and horse care –
to support herself and pay the rent for her flat.
“At the time, it was quite a natural step for me. I’d grown
up with my mother, who was alone with three children, while
also studying for a law degree. I had to learn to undertake
responsibilities at a young age,” she says.
… learning Chinese: “It’s a must, you can’t live in China
without knowing the language.”
… her inspiration: “I’m a great believer in conscious
capitalism. My role model is the late Anita Roddick,
founder of Body Shop, since she started and developed
her cosmetics chain from the perspective that it should
not be only ethical and environmental, but also profitable.”
… taking risks: “I don’t regard myself as a risk-taker. I never
do anything without analysing risks that could be involved.”
At present, just three people in China work full time
with Bonzun since it is still in the start-up phase, but the
company has a large editorial board that includes doctors,
researchers and medical editors, as well as technical
developers. They hail from various countries, such as
Sweden, China, Nepal and the Philippines.
“All of our information is evidence-based and written
by specialists – we never speculate,” says Roupé, who adds
that the aim is to provide the information to an ever-broader
group of people.
She hopes to create China’s leading website for pregnant
women and parents with small children, and her target is
that her portal shall have 30 million visitors a week within
five years, creating a profitable e-commerce business.
Besides describing pregnancy symptoms, Roupé’s
plan is to expand the web portal to provide advice on preconception issues and child care, as well as raising the
educational quality of nurses.
Roupé has received several awards, including being
listed as one of Sweden’s super-talents under 40 years old
by leading Swedish business magazine Veckans Affärer.
“That has meant a lot to me in China, where people do
research on me before they meet me for the first time. But
the award I am most proud of is the Innovation Against
Poverty grant I received from the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). It felt like an
acknowledgement that I am on the right track.” b
Hong Kong
The lucky Mamma Mia winners,
from left: Pernilla Halldin
(H&M), Thomas Bergström (TK
Mold) and Johan Andrén
(Handelsbanken).
Crayfish Party 2014
Photo: Tommy Hallberg
n The traditional SwedCham’s Crayfish Party
attracted 210 hungry guests around the pool at the Royal Hong
Kong Yacht Club. Many thanks to our generous sponsors: Finnair, Asian Tigers
and SEB. Of course, thanks also go out to our fantastic guests who feasted on
214 kg of crayfish during the night and made this year’s party one to remember.
We also would like to say thanks to Peter Fransson of Saison Food
Service, which delivered the very tasty crayfish, and our DJ, Dale
James, who helped create a great atmosphere. Meanwhile,
our MC, Jimmy Bjennmyr from Handelsbanken, did an
excellent job of putting all attendees in a singing
mood during the night.
Congratulations to the
winners of the Mamma
Mia tickets, and thanks
to the participants in the
contest, who all looked
great. See you next year!
Beijing
Thank you for the Party!
n The 2014 Crayfish Party in Beijing was the
party of the year. Held on a perfectly warm
Saturday evening after a day of blue skies, nearly
200 guests gathered in the Royal Garden at the
Radisson Blu Hotel in Beijing. Before the guests
could dive into an ocean of crayfish sponsored by
ICA, and an extensive buffet, as usual, the party
kicked off with snaps songs sung by the charming
duo, Erik Linder and Johan Randén, flown in from
Sweden by SAS. We were honoured to have Lars
Olofsson take on the role of MC, and he did a
fantastic job of engaging with the guests and the
entertainers throughout the dinner.
As the evening progressed, arms linked, tables
began rocking and the dance floor filled up. Hands
and tables got very messy from all the crayfish –
and from the snaps as well – but SCA was ready
for that by providing wet wipes. Erik and Johan
gave a fantastic performance throughout the
evening and by the time they were done, the
dance floor was begging for more, which they got
three times, before “Michelangelo” drew a rocking
masterpiece of a performance to an end. But the
evening had just begun, with a DJ taking over and
continuing to rock the garden late into the night.
Unfortunately, SCA and Vinge could not be
present in person, but Business Sweden and SAS
were not shy about participating in a Dragon
Partner Challenge, which involved various activities
and entertaining performances on stage, such as
building a six-person human pyramid and taking on
the ice bucket challenge three times. A big thank
you goes out to our Dragon Partners: Business
Sweden, SAS, SCA and Vinge, because without
you none of this would have been possible.
Experience leads to excellence
Vinge opened its office in Hong Kong as early as 1985. In 1999, Vinge became the
first Swedish and Scandinavian law firm to obtain a licence to open an office in China,
located in Shanghai. Vinge has led the way and assisted clients in Sweden-China related
trade and investment matters for more than 20 years. Practice makes perfect.
STOCKHOLM
GOTHENBURG
MALMO
HELSINGBORG
BRUSSELS
HONG KONG
SHANGHAI
Shanghai
Personal
We offer personal logistics;
simplicity, precision and reliability
for our customers, and that
means personal attention and
service, because business
relationships are about people.
www.apclogistics.com
The Chinese economy is at the crossroads between old and new
growth models, according to Nordea’s Steen V Gröndahl, Amy Yuan
Zhuang and Michael Thurow.
Chasing the Chinese Dream
n On 13 May, Nordea’s Amy Yuan Zhuang, senior Asian
analyst, and Steen V Gröndahl, head of global research,
held an interesting presentation at a Swedish chamber
business breakfast in Shanghai.
The rebalancing of the world economy is affecting
different geographical areas and sectors, and is also
setting China on a new growth model. The Chinese
economy is at a crossroad between old and new growth
models. The speakers highlighted three challenges that
China faces as it moves into the next stage:
• Restructuring of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to
preserve competitiveness and reduce credit risk.
• Social reforms to promote consumption.
• Geopolitical tensions with Japan and other Southeast
Asian countries.
Reaching the new
connected consumer
Crayfish Party in Shanghai
n It seemed as if the high spirits of the 230 happy guests at the Crayfish
Party chased away the imposing rainclouds that had been circling
Shanghai for several days before the event on Saturday 20 September.
With Lars Olofsson as host, and the entertainment duo, Erik Linder and
Johan Randén, getting the crowd on its feet, everyone agreed that they
had a truly enjoyable evening at the Paulaner Brauhaus in Pudong, which
served as host venue for the Swedish chamber annual Crayfish Party.
n On June 5, Alice Hu, social and
digital manager of the MSL Group Asia,
held a much-appreciated presentation
on connected consumers.
We have entered an age of social
networks in which people are mobile
first. WeChat, Line and KakaoTalk are
some of the fastest-growing mobile
social platforms, replacing many of
the applications we use daily with
one that houses everything. These
platforms are where people go to pay
bills, catch-up with friends, create
multimedia content, buy things, and
much more. Over 40 per cent of the
world’s internet users live in Asia.
Alice Hu talks about
the age of mobile
social platforms.
Taipei
Photo: Google
Sweden Day approaches
Sweden Day on
12 November,
2014, will be held
in the beautiful
old brick house in
Huashan Creative
Park, Taipei.
n Sweden Day on 12 November, 2014, will be held in the beautiful
old brick house in Huashan Creative Park, Taipei.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei, in collaboration
with Business Sweden in Taipei, is arranging a promotion event
for Swedish businesses. The event will coincide with the visit by
a Swedish state secretary, who will be arriving in Taipei with a
business delegation.
The main purpose of the event is to present Swedish products,
innovations and services, with a view to highlighting their high
quality, sustainability and modern technology.
Ten Swedish member companies will display their products in
the form of a presentation that offers business opportunities, and
an exchange of experience and discussions with other participants.
Advice for dealing with disputes
n On 1 September the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei, together
with the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, jointly hosted an
event with guest speakers Annette Magnusson, secretary-general of
the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce’s (SCC’s) Arbitration Institute
and Nils Eliasson, partner and head of Dispute Resolution Asia,
Mannheimer Swartling, Hong Kong. In their presentations, the speakers
focused on pro-active dispute management and dispute avoidance.
The SCC’s Arbitration Institute deals with about 200 cases per year
involving about 35 countries. Besides Swedish and other European
parties, many cases involve parties from
Russia and China. While the secretariat is in
Stockholm, the board is very international,
with representatives from many countries.
The Arbitration Institute has made its
service user-friendly for an international
clientele by providing translations of
substantial portions of Swedish law in English,
Chinese and Russian, as well as offering free
English translations of Swedish court decisions
on arbitration issues on its website.
Because disputes take time, cost money
At the same time, the chamber will be present to inform everybody
about the activities, such as lectures, seminars and guest events.
The chamber is working to support the Sweden brand and the
image of Sweden abroad, as well as to contribute to increase
business between our countries.
This will be an excellent occasion to meet people working with
Swedish products and a good opportunity to exchange views about
the business environment.
During the event a buffet dinner will be served, including
Swedish food and drinks.
This is an invitation-only event, so if you would like to attend
please send an email to: [email protected] and visit our web
page, www.swedchamtw.org, for more information.
and are a significant drain on resources, it is best to try to avoid them
in the first place through proactive risk management during contract
negotiations. Having good, standard template contracts, negotiation
manuals and check-lists in place that are designed for your specific
business should be a priority. Parties also often fail to fully understand
the motivations and commercial objectives of their business partners
and make sure that the contracts reflect these commercial objectives.
There is no “one size fits all” solution to resolving disputes. Parties
should consider a number of factors before opting for arbitration,
litigation or mediation – in particular the potential costs and drain on
resources. They should also consider the impact on business.
Speakers concluded that disputes are an
inevitable part of international business. But
dealing with them efficiently can save time and
money. Parties should develop clear strategies,
focus on the right issues and work on a
settlement strategy in parallel with dispute
preparation. Strategies need to be realistic.
From left: Freddie Höglund, European Chamber
of Commerce Taiwan; Nils Eliasson, Mannheimer
Swartling Hong Kong; Annette Magnusson,
Stockholm Chamber of Commerce; and Louise
Byström, Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei.
You can breathe easier and so can she.
¨
www.beaconmedaes.com
Part of the Atlas Copco Group
Spotlight on the board:
Tax agreement signed
between Sweden and
Hong Kong
Photo: Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se
n On 22 August 2014, Sweden and Hong Kong signed a Tax Information
Exchange Agreement. The agreement will enter into force once it is
ratified by the Swedish parliament. The agreement empowers the
Swedish tax authority to request tax-related information for Swedish
individuals and companies based in Hong Kong.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has previously
informed the members about this development. The board of directors’
view is that under the circumstances, a Comprehensive Double
Taxation Agreement would be much more beneficial for developing
trade and clarify the tax situation for individuals and companies. For
several years, the board has lobbied this view and will continue doing
so to relevant authorities.
You can find more information at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/
Agreement_Sweden_HongKong.pdf
The chamber will continue to arrange activities around this topic
during the autumn. The first will be a Tax Seminar with Fredrik Lager of
SEB Private Banking on 21 October, 2014.
Coastal Watch beach clean-up
n SwedCham in Hong Kong has been selected as one of the partner
organisations to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF’s) Coastal
Watch programme, which kicked off in June with support from the
Hong Kong government. Under the programme, SwedCham has been
awarded Big Wave Bay near Shek O, as its adopted beach.
Starting on 16 November 2014, the chamber will organise outings
at the beach twice a year. These outings aim not only to clean up
the beach, but will also contain a scientific component that aims
to explore where the waste is coming from and what can be done
to clean up Hong Kong’s coastline. To this end, a team of scientists
will accompany SwedCham on all outings. Says Kristian Odebjer
of SwedCham’s Environmental Committee, “The Coastal Watch
programme builds on the work we have done on beaches around Hong
Kong for several years now. By partnering with the WWF and bringing
in the scientific angle, we will be able to accomplish even more.”
Marketing of a chamber
The governments of Sweden and the HKSAR have reached a tax agreement.
n In April 2014, SwedCham Hong Kong
decided, with support from the board, to set
up a marketing committee. A need for more
clarity on messages and direction for the
chamber was identified and Walter Jennings,
managing partner of Kreab Gavin Anderson,
volunteered to lead the new committee.
To kick-start the new committee’s work,
Kreab Gavin Anderson invited the marketing
committee to a brainstorming session being
on message and communication channels
Walter Jennings is heading
that would further strengthen SwedCham’s the chamber’s marketing
profile and create more engagement for the committee.
organisation and its activities.
Fifteen people participated in the first session to discuss, among
other things, where SwedCham is today, where we want SwedCham
to be in the future, barriers to success, stepping stones – that is the
actions and ideas that will take SwedCham to the next level, key
audiences and competitors.
When key messages are agreed upon, they will serve as the basis
for a better-grounded communications plan for SwedCham, which the
marketing committee will present to the board in due course.
Creative Swedes in HK
Mostafa Sharq
Malin Teeling
Welcome Mostafa and Malin!
n The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China would like to greet our
newest additions to the chamber offices, Mostafa Sharq and Malin Teeling.
Mostafa is the chamber’s new Anders Wall Scholar in Shanghai and
will stay with us until June next year. He holds a degree in economics
from Gothenburg University and has been studying political science
at Lund University. He has also studied Chinese at Fudan University in
Shanghai and did his exchange semester in Suzhou.
Malin will be at the Beijing office for six months, before completing
her Master of International Business from Grenoble Graduate School of
Business. Malin holds a Bachelor of Business Management from Leeds
Metropolitan and has now studied her first year of two at Beihang
University in Beijing.
Besides the daily activities of the chamber, Mostafa will act as chairman of the Young Professionals board in Shanghai and Malin is marketing
manager and member of the Young Professionals’ board in Beijing.
We look forward to working together with Malin and Mostafa in
Shanghai and Beijing.
n Creative Swedes in Hong Kong is an initiative by SwedCham
HK to gather Swedish creative entrepreneurs under one
umbrella and showcase of what Swedish style and creativity
can accomplish in the dynamic setting of Hong Kong.
This long-term initiative aims to increase awareness of
Swedish designers active in HK, enable new exciting meetings
and create new opportunities for everybody involved.
Sweden is the partner country for this year’s Business of
Design Week (BODW) in Hong Kong. In the run-up to the event,
Creative Swedes in Hong Kong will host a series of build-up
events to create awareness, consisting of studio visits, lectures
and informal design talks, including a pop-up store at the PMQ
for one month. (see also page 8)
If you are interested in joining, please contact Louise Herrlin
at the SwedCham office: [email protected]
Swedish banking in China
We feel at home in the Chinese market and want you to feel the same. It’s a large and
fastgrowing market. As a result, more and more Scandinavian companies need banking
solutions, such as cash management, financing in local and foreign currencies, trade
finance and treasury solutions in China.
We’ll help you – bringing our 20 years of experience of business in China. If you have
the opportunity, please visit us in Shanghai where we’ve been located since 2001.
Swedbank Shanghai
Citigroup Tower 601,
33 Huayuanshiqiao Rd.
Shanghai, China
+ 86 21 386 126 00
Louise Herrlin
Edvard Månsson
Welcome Louise and Edward!
Congratulations!
n A warm welcome to Louise Herrlin, SwedCham HK’s new events
and marketing manager, and Edvard Månsson, the Greencarrier
graduate Intern. We look forward to working with both of you.
Louise has lived in Hong Kong since June 2013. She has a
background in supply-chain management and has a Master of
Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lund University.
Edvard has just completed his master’s program in Media
Management at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm
and, thanks to Greencarrier, Edvard will now spend 10 months
with us here in Hong Kong.
At the same time we wish Emma Cosmo, our former marketing
manager, all the best in her future career in Sweden.
n SwedCham Hong Kong congratulates Choi Kan-suen, who
received the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong’s
scholarship for studies in the master’s
programme,
Sustainable
Development,
between 2014 to
2016 at Uppsala
University in Sweden.
Choi Kan-suen together
with Eva Åkesson, vice
chancellor, Uppsala
University.
HONG KONG ORDINARY MEMBER >>>
CHINA ORDINARY MEMBERS >>>
Logistic Service & Engineering Co, Ltd
Unit N, 9/F Valiant Industrial Centre
2-12 Au Pui Wan Street
Fotan, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2687 5105
Web: www.lgse.com.hk
About us
LGSE is a one-stop electronics product development and
manufacturing company offering a full range of services
from initial feasibility studies to full mass production.
We specialise in medium-volume projects that are too
complicated for most others.
With both development and production under one
roof, we can offer very competitive total project costs.
This minimises the cost and time when transitioning from
development to production and ensures fast, competent
production support.
Chamber representative
Oscar Hemberg, Technical Director
Copenhagen Malmö Port
Terminalgatan 18
SE-201 25 Malmö, Sweden
Tel: +46 40 680 41 00
Web: www.cmport.com
About us
CMP China office’s two main responsibilities are to
market CMP as a bounded logistics hub or distribution
centre (in Malmö Port) for Chinese exporters’ Northern
European market, and to promote the largest leading
cruise destination – Copenhagen Port – in Scandinavia. Our
target customers include car manufacturers, construction
machinery and construction material companies, appliance
manufactures, wind and solar power companies, shipping
lines, logistics providers and e-business, among others.
Joanna Pan
Mobile: +86 183 2111 4210
HONG KONG INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS >>>
Per-Johan Dahl
Tel: +852 9306 1835
1
Caroline Dahl
Tel: +852 9306 2610
Marcus Taeck
Tel: +852 2579 9596
Email:
[email protected]
2
Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai
500 Weihai Road, Jing’an District,
Shanghai 200041
Tel: +86 21 6256 8888
Fax: +86 21 6287 1025
Web: www.fourseasons.com/shanghai
About us
In the heart of Shanghai’s historical centre, the Four
Seasons Hotel Shanghai is classic East-meets-West
elegance, with 37 stories of contemporary luxury guest
rooms, palatial Chinese spa facilities and an eclectic
selection of renowned restaurants.
Chamber representatives
Fredrik Blomqvist, Hotel Manager
Mobile: +86 181 2122 6200
Anthony.Yeung, Director of Marketing
Mobile: +86 181 2122 6199
1
2
1
2
Regal Scandinavia Ltd
No 519, 16 Street
Export Processing Zone
Xiasha Town
Hangzhou City
Zhejiang Province 310018
Tel: +86 136 6663 2676
Web: www.regalscandinavia.cn
Valmet (China) Co, Ltd
688 Baofeng Road, Jiading Disctrict
Shanghai 201809
Tel: +86 21 3997 5000
Web: www.valmet.com
About us
We are an import and e-commerce sales event and travel
agency, and also offer production and sales of interior
articles.
Stefan Schörling, President
Mobile: +86 136 6663 2676
Jennifer Pang, Vice President
Mobile: +86 186 5710 2266
About us
We are a full-scope supplier of technology and machinery
for pulp and paper production (former Metso Paper). Our
main offices are in Shanghai, Beijing and Wuxi, and we have
workshops in Shanghai and Xi’an.
1
2
Imperial International Freight
Forwarding Co, Ltd
758 West Nanjing Road
17C, Hui Yin Building
Shanghai 200041
Tel: +86 21 6271 5050-102
Web: www.imperial-international.com
About us
We engage in import-export-domestic shipping by water,
land or air, as well as warehousing storage.
Christian Berlin
Mobile: +86 186 2114 2466
Bo Faxén
Mobile: +86 136 3641 3233
Axstores Far East Limited
Units 2303-2306, Maxdo Center
No 8 Xingyi Road
Shanghai 200336
PR China
Web: www.axstores.se
About us
Axstores is one of the leading retail trading groups in the
Nordic region with department stores and specialty stores
within fashion, beauty and homeware comprising the Åhléns
department store chain and specialty chain stores Kicks and
Lagerhaus. In 380 stores in Sweden, Finland and Norway, the
Axstores group’s 5,500 employees meet more than 300,000
customers every day.
Karin Brofelth, General Manager
Tel: +86 21 5208 1608
Hong Kong Re-VAT International Ltd
No 1506, Ruicheng International
No 71 Chaoyang Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: +86 10 8572 5128
Web: www.re-vat.com
C
M
Y
CM
About us
Wiseline Corporation is a service company focused on crossborder e-commerce business, making it possible for overseas
merchants to enter the Chinese market. Wiseline was
founded by European and Chinese cross-border e-commerce
veterans in early 2010, working closely with China UnionPay,
and we have experience bringing several major platforms and
merchants to China. Today, we work as a trusted partner with
all major platforms and local providers in China, delivering
online payments, website localisation, customer services,
business consultancy and e-marketing that best fits the
individual merchant.
Block C5, Suhong Industrial Square, 81 Suhong West Road
SIP, 215021 Suzhou, P.R. China
[email protected], www.unimer.cn
Phone: +86 152 5009 5190
Phone: +86 189 3459 9953
Ningbo branch
Room 404, Building A, Jiahui Mansion
No 11 South Caihong Road
Jiangdong District
Ningbo, China
Tel: +86 574 8797 7270
Fax: +86 574 8797 7271
Wiseline Corporation Limited
N3:903, 89 Jianguolu
Chaoyang District
Beijing, China 100025
Tel: +86 150 0226 8663
Web: www.wiseline.biz
Karl Alberts, Director
Mobile: +86 150 1060 6724
LI Shanshan, CEO
Mobile: +86 150 0226 8663
MY
2
CY
1
K
Carol Han, Sales Director
Mobile: +86 186 1108 7717
About us
Norman Global Logistics is a privately owned and managed
company that provides global logistics solutions for its
customers. We have offices in Asia and Europe, providing
professional and cost-effective logistics solutions, with a
high level of personal engagement. Efficient IT solutions in
combination with highly personalised service, flexibility and
responsibility are the standard in our business relations.
Our business activities cover the complete supply
chain – air, sea, road, warehouse, pick & pack, logistics –
and within all those categories, we also offer specialist
bespoke services.
We make logistics simple for our clients and work hard
to achieve trouble-free international movements for your
shipments.
CMY
About us
We assist our corporate clients in claiming back VAT refunds
occurred in business activities with the European Union.
Meanwhile, we can also help individuals reclaim their
personal VAT worldwide.
Norman Global Logistics
Room 601, International Capital Plaza
No 1318 North Sichuan Rd, Shanghai
Tel: +86 21 3656 2090
Web: www.normanglobal.com
Rubber Products
Plastic Products
Flexible hoses
Assembly
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Hong Kong branch
811, 8F, Tower 1, Cheung Sha Wan Plaza
833 Cheung Sha Wan Road
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3582 3440
Fax: +852 3582 4366
Stefan Holmqvist, Managing Director
Mobile: +852 9167 1763
CHINA ASSOCIATE MEMBER >>>
Huang Bokai
Ping’an Financial Centre
Room 1005, Tower A
Xinyuan Nan Lu 1-3, Chaoyang District,
Beijing 100027
Web: www.rtcapital.cn
Mobile: +86 159 0115 8727
Josefine M. Mosse
[email protected]
Af t e r hou r s
Doing business in Sweden?
n Stores
New premises for Sverige Shoppen
n Communities
Sverige Shoppen (the Sweden Shop) has moved to
new and more spacious premises in Hong Kong. Since
September, it has been located on the 18th floor of
Star House, with easy access from the Star Ferry Pier in
Tsimshatsui and from the MTR exit L6.
Sverige Shoppen, run by Carol Ågren, opened in
2012 and has a broad line of Swedish products that
also can be delivered to the doorstep by ordering
online. It has expanded by offering a variety of Swedish
aquavit, whisky and wine in a section called Little
Systembolaget, after the government-owned chain of
liquor stores in Sweden.
Address: Unit 1825A, 18/F, Star House, No 3
Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2312 1919
Web: www.sverigeshoppen.com
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 7pm.
Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Buy the finest of Scandinavia online
In June, Regal Scandinavia hosted its grand opening
and release party at the Marriott Hotel in Beijing. Regal
Scandinavian is an exclusive members club devoted to
sharing the Scandinavian lifestyle. Discover the finest
Scandinavian design, home decoration, jewellery and
accessories, all collected together in one location.
Get access to these unique treasures by applying for
membership at www.regalscandinavia.com, or by via
email: [email protected].
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international law energy and investment law it and telecom litigation
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Lawyers you want on your side
Clean Healthy Air 24/7
Se till att ha en duktig
rådgivare som har tillgång
till många specialister
= Life insurance and Higher Performance
Förmögenhetsrådgivning, när den är som bäst, inkluderar med andra ord allt
som kan påverka din personliga förmögenhet, nu och i framtiden. Vi har kompetensen och de tekniska systemen för att kunna ge dig den bästa servicen som
finns att få. Och framförallt – genom att vara en stor bank har vi möjlighet att
erbjuda dig de bästa specialisterna. En personlig rådgivare, många specialister
– gör det möjligt.
At Home • Kindergarten/School/High School/University • At Work
Besök oss på www.nordeaprivatebanking.com eller ring kontoret
i Singapore på +65 6597 1082, så bokar vi ett möte.
Nordea Bank S.A:s Singapore-kontor ingår i Nordea, den ledande finanskoncernen i Norden och Östersjöregionen. Vissa tjänster och produkter som beskrivs i detta material är eventuellt inte godkända för försäljning i vissa länder. Huruvida du kan eller bör köpa en produkt kan bland annat bero på din riskprofil och lagen i det land där du är bosatt. Detta material ska inte betraktas som ett erbjudande om att köpa eller sälja någon placeringsprodukt eller att göra någon
annan affär. Det ska inte heller betraktas som ett erbjudande att tillhandahålla banktjänster i något land där Nordea Bank S.A:s Singapore-kontor eller något av dess närstående bolag inte har tillstånd att bedriva bankrörelse. Publicerad
av Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg no. B 14.157 för Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore-kontoret, 3 Anson Rd #20-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com
AD_Dragonnews_210x140_swe_Jonas_2014.indd 1
EAS Beijing Office, China, Mr Shangyou Dong,
Manager, Ph: 0086 10 85322147,Cell: 0086 135
2199 5330, Mail: [email protected]
SWEDEN HQ Environmental Air of Sweden AB.
Mr Göran Hertzberg, M D,
Ph: 0046 761 048 350, Mail: [email protected]
Jonas Bergqvist, Private Banker
25/02/2014 11:21
www.easab.com
Th e ch a mb e r a nd I
Experiences of local healthcare
For this issue of Dragon News, we asked some
of our members about their views on and
experience of healthcare in the city they live.
These were the questions:
1. Do you have any experience of public or private
healthcare where you live in China or Hong Kong?
2. If so, what is your view of the healthcare
system there?
3. Is there anything that the Swedish healthcare
system can learn from China/HK?
4. Have you tried Traditional Chinese Medicine?
And below are the answers.
Magnus Hagberg
Anna Palmgren
Kennet Stigsson
Ericsson, Beijing
SwedBiz Design & Development, Hong Kong
1. “Yes, private healthcare.”
2. “Very efficient and professional.”
3. “I think the Swedish doctors and nurses are doing
way too much administration work and should have
more time to take care of patients.”
4. “I have tried the herbs in hot water to prevent
getting a cold.”
1. “Yes but only private hospitals.”
2. “The service is good since it’s private and most
customers are foreigners.”
3. “Better planning to avoid long waiting times, but
I guess in Sweden it’s an issue about funding to hire
more specialists and so on.”
4. “No.”
Andreas Engström
Caroline Briggert
Swegon, Shanghai
Kreab Gavin Anderson, Hong Kong
1. “Yes, both.”
2. “Doctors’ skills in general are not a problem. The
fact is that the level of skills should be higher here
because the volume of patients is bigger and the
frequency of, for instance, surgical procedures
is greater. The main problem is that all hospitals,
private and state-owned, are highly profit-driven
and this affects their ethics. You have to be very
careful and ask right questions to avoid being given
the wrong diagnosis and medicines you don’t need.
Using www.1177.se is very useful as you can get
independent advice on diagnosis and medicines.”
3. “After 15 years in China and experience of both
Swedish and Chinese healthcare systems, I can only
say we should be grateful in Sweden for what we
have today.”
4. “Yes, once.”
1. “Fortunately, my contacts with Hong Kong’s
healthcare system have been minimal. I have good
experiences from the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital
where doctors are firm but professional.”
2. “As long as I have gone through my European
insurance company, it has been an incredibly easy
and straight forward process and I felt as if I was in
safe, professional hands.”
3. “In general, I believe in Asia’s holistic approach
to healthcare and I think Sweden would benefit
from incorporating more of that thinking in the
healthcare system.”
4. “I have tried some random powder, lotions
and potions that my local colleagues have
recommended. I do Chinese acupressure massage
and lymphatic detox massage on a regular basis
however and I love it.”
Bulten, Beijing
1. “Yes, private. In order to get my visa, I underwent a
thorough health inspection upon arrival.”
2. “The day felt more like a day in a factory as I was
moved throughout various stations, each with one
specific task.”
3. “The system in itself is very unique, but I suppose
that the treatment of multiple standard procedures like
the one I experienced could be done simultaneously
with larger groups as it is done in China.”
4. “I’ve got a lot of different kinds of tea at home
– red, green, black, herbal, and so on. They’re all
supposed to be good for something, and I suppose
they help as I haven’t had to turn to a hospital yet.”
DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD
Ulf Ohrling, Chairman [Mannheimer Swartling]
Jimmy Bjennmyr [Handelsbanken]
Carl Christensson [SEB]
Eva Henriksson [Henriksson Consulting]
Karine Hirn [East Capital]
Walter Jennings [Kreab Gavin Anderson]
Pontus Karlsson [Happy Rabbit]
Staffan Löfgren [ScanAsia Consulting]
Per Ågren [APC Asia Pacific Cargo]
DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD
Katarina Nilsson, Chairman [Advokatfirman Vinge]
Lars-Åke Severin, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Beijing Chapter [PSU]
Ulf Söderström, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Shanghai Chapter [SCA]
Fredrik Ektander, Treasurer [SEB]
Liselotte Duthu [Atlas Copco]
Birgitta Ed [Six Year Plan]
Karine Hirn [East Capital]
Chunyuan Gu [ABB]
Peter Idsäter [Mannheimer Swartling]
Daniel Karlsson [Asia Perspective]
Martin Pei [SSAB]
Peter Sandberg [Tobii]
Jimmy Bjennmyr
Head of Corporate Banking
Hong Kong Branch
Mikael Westerback
Head of Greater China and
General Manager Shanghai branch
Florence Chan
Senior Account Manager
Hong Kong Branch
Johan Andrén
Deputy Head of Greater China and
General Manager Hong Kong branch
Shanghai – Mikael Westerback +86 21 6329 8877 ext 888, Pontus Gertell +86 21 6329 8877 ext 848

Dragon News! - Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China

Transcription

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