Sweden seeks stronger ties with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The embassy of Sweden in Manila held its Swedish National Day celebration on June 6 with a focus on enhancing bilateral ties with the Philippines in key areas including defense and security, industrial development, innovation and health care.

“The Philippines is a strategic partner for Sweden, because of its economic growth prospects and its commitment to the rule of law. We support the Philippine Development Plan with the vision to improve the country’s economy and provide jobs to Filipinos,” Swedish Ambassador Annika Thunborg said on Thursday.

Sweden is recognized as a global leader in innovation. Since 2016, when the embassy reopened, Team Sweden – comprised of its embassy, trade and investment council and the private sector – has been actively collaborating with the Philippines in innovation and development.

Areas of focus include transportation, energy, retail and the circular economy with companies such as Atlas Copco, H&M, Lynk electric cars, PTC & Wallenius shipping, Volvo Buses, ABB, Nasdaq, BDO and Transcom. This is possible through the “quadruple helix model” which involves collaboration with the Philippine government, Swedish and Filipino private sector, international development institutions and other communities such as academe and civil society.

Team Sweden is keen to continue these collaborations, especially in security and defense, sustainable and responsible mining and health care with companies such as Saab, Volvo Trucks and Construction Equipment, Sandvik, Ericsson Telecommunications and AstraZeneca.

“Sweden is committed to building a long-term and sustainable relationship with the Philippines. This is attested by the visits of our Minister of Trade Johan Forssell last year, the visit of State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson and leading Swedish industrialist and banker Marcus Wallenberg earlier this year and now with the Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson,” Thunborg said.

At the event, representatives of the Swedish government highlighted the need to address common challenges such as climate, economic security and geopolitical tensions. Moreover, in an increasingly polarized world, it is crucial for states to have strong ties with like-minded countries.

Sweden sees the Philippines as an important partner with common interests in free trade, the international rules-based order and green and digital transition.

“Peace and security have indeed for a long time been a priority area in the Swedish-Philippine relations. Sweden has since many years actively supported the Bangsamoro Peace Process, and our two countries also cooperate extensively on matters such as promoting and defending the UN Charter, the rules-based international order and respect for international law, including UNCLOS,” Jonson said.

From the Philippine side, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. gave a message on behalf of President Marcos.

“The past 77 years of our relations have been marked by friendly exchanges and fruitful cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and investments, maritime cooperation, energy, smart and green solutions, science and technology and of course, defense. Your visit today, Minister Jonson, is a testament to the deepening of our defense and security relations,” the President’s message noted.

Since 1983, Sweden has celebrated its National Day on June 6. This is the date on which Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523, which laid the foundation of Sweden as a unified nation state, and on which a new, landmark constitution was adopted in 1809.