Business & Investment Trends between Australia & Sweden

On the 29th of September SACC and the Australian Business Council of Sweden joined forces and delivered, for the first time ever, a joint webinar to its members both in Sweden and in Australia.

Special Guests, HE Bernard Philip Australian Ambassador to Sweden and HE Henrik Cederin, Swedish Ambassador to Australia, were joined by Martin Ekberg, Trade & Invest Commissioner and Country Manager to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and Jennifer Mackinlay, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for UK, Ireland & Nordics, in a discussion about business and investment trends in Australia and Sweden in a post-covid-19 world.

This historic event was opened by the two Chairmen of the Chambers, Jan Gardberg and Warren Campbell, who jointly offered a warm welcome to the audience, listening in from both sides of the world.

Over the past six months, SACC has through a number of webinars, explored the consequences and the impact that covid-19 has had on business and trade and what businesses have learned from this pandemic. These webinars have been including representatives from many different sectors, offering different aspects and what has been clear throughout these discussions is the need for businesses and individuals to adopt and transform and that trust, inclusion and collaboration will be lighthouses to guide the way forward.

In reference to what the outlook is for the trade and investment policy in Australia and Europe, post this pandemic and considering if there is a risk of renewed protectionism, Ambassador Philip acknowledged that there is indeed some risk of renewed protectionism. Whether it manifests as trade tensions between the major powers, US and China, or in some cases, US and the European Union, or as challenges to the multilateral system, these are indeed signs of increased protectionism.

“We have also seen countries looking inwards which in part, is understandable, but it has also led to unfortunate actions like restrictions on the flow of medical supply as we saw early on in the crisis. There is also a challenge for policy makers as they wrestle with important policy matters like digital trade or climate, to navigate the right balance between good regulation and then actions that stray over to protectionism” said Ambassador Philip. “The broader risk in all of this is the possible intersection between protectionism and geopolitical competition, where they can intersect in a destabilising way. So, I think we do have to recognise that it is an environment that we have to work very hard to manage” continued Ambassador Philip. Ambassador Philip highlighted that there still are some bright spots. Australia has a renewed focus on multilateralism, including its engagement with the G20, OECD and WTO, which is more important than ever. One example of Australia’s support of multilateralism is the covax facility that will provide equitable access to the vaccine when it comes.

Australia and the European Union is continuing to make good progress on the Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Ambassador Philip concluded that “The overall picture is one with encouraging signs”. There are some adjustments that are sensible that could point to increased protectionism, in terms of policies, whether it is building better resilience in supply chains or from a national security perspective, giving greater attention to investment screening. However, “Australia’s view, a view I believe also shared by Sweden, is that this has to be done within a construct of support for free trade,” said Ambassador Philip.

Europe seems to have doubled down on its commitment to a Green Deal, while the Australian Government has just released its first Low Emissions Technology Statement. This presents opportunities for business and investment between Australia and Sweden. Ambassador Philip said that this area is “One of the most exciting areas of the relationship between Sweden and Australia, and more generally between Europe and Australia”. There is a strong commitment in Europe for sustainability and emissions reduction as a central part of the post- covid-19 recovery, which was highlighted in its revised 2030 target but also seen through the role that fiscal stimulus can play in delivering emission reduction targets. Ambassador Philip is recognising an exciting trend in the Nordics around decarbonisation and recognises that there is a powerful sense of companies seeing a competitive advantage of being an early mover in this space. “There is a similar movement in Australia where we really are on an accelerated drive for emissions reduction”. In Australia’s recent Low Emissions Technology Statement, there is a focus on five priority technologies and looking across these areas, there are plenty of complementarities between Australia and Europe. On a political level, one group that Australia joined last year, is the Leadership Group on Industry Transition led by Sweden and India, which presents a good platform for change.

From a Swedish perspective, Ambassador Henrik Cederin shared his perspective on the opportunities and focus areas for business and trade post the pandemic. “From a political perspective, the covid-19 crisis which has led to a shift for online meetings which in turn has led to very good interactions [between Australia and Sweden] with a number of meetings taking place even at the very highest level which in turn bodes well for a good corporate involvement,” said Ambassador Cederin. Whilst there has been a slowdown in visitors from Sweden, online exchange has exploded, which is a promising sign of increased cooperation between Sweden and Australia. The Ambassador also referenced the existing strong position of Swedish businesses in Australia with more than 200 companies with an established presence in Australia, employing some 20,000 people. Companies that are often regarded as local companies with local capabilities. Australia stands out as a critical market for Swedish companies, with a growing economy, albeit the hiccup of covid-19, the long-term trajectory is good.

Sustainability is clearly a focus area for Australia, which will bring opportunities for Swedish companies to invest in Australia. Swedish companies are often leaders in adopting sustainability perspectives and could bring valuable technology and knowhow to Australia in this regard. What Swedish companies can offer the Australian market with the new demands in this market place, makes it a good fit. “We will play a role in the green transitioning that will take place in Australia,” said Ambassador Cederin.

In reference to issues that we need to pay particular attention to in a global trade perspective, Ambassador Cederin refers to the shock that we have seen to supply chains and the tendency that we have seen to reassure local supply chains, politically labelled as strategic autonomy. “This portrays a challenge to increased openness. The fear that this crisis has instilled in this market has been seen in many governments around the world. We have to be active in advocacy for open trade” said Ambassador Cederin. Ambassador Cederin continued “We know that in Sweden, we built our strong economy on open trade and our firm belief is that it [open trade] will be helpful for all countries”.

Martin Ekberg said that there are six major shifts that we now see in the Australian business landscape that have been accelerated due to covid-19. Some already ongoing pre-covid-19 but some have increased and they are; the upgrade of Australian defence capabilities, fast-tracking of key infrastructure and the focus to drive local manufacturing competitiveness. More industry agnostic shifts such as the uptake in zero emissions technology, uptake in digitalisation and cyber security but also a growing ambition to diversify Australia’s trade footprint in terms of trade partners, are also recognised shifts. “Covid-19, as well as the trade conflict between the US and China, has exposed Australia’s trade vulnerability,” said Martin Ekberg. Australia’s high dependability on China has hit Australia very hard. Martin Ekberg also referred to the trade restrictions imposed by China on Australian exports and predicted that these may well continue, which will create a lot of economic uncertainty. This emerging situation should mean opportunities for Swedish companies, Australia already is the 4th largest export market for Sweden outside of the European Union.

Another area with growth potential that Martin Ekberg would like to stress, is smart manufacturing. Sweden has a solid track record in smart manufacturing, an area that has been somewhat neglected in Australia (Australia ranks the worst compared to other OECD countries). Manufacturing self-sufficiency is therefore an opportunity for increased bilateral knowledge exchange, which will assist in making Australia a manufacturing hub. Adaptation of new technology which will enable industry 4.0 and also offers an opportunity to build a local supply chain. “This could be the right time to rethink production strategy,” said Martin Ekberg. By way of advice for Swedish businesses looking at investing in the Australian market, Martin Ekberg could conclude a few areas for businesses to look into.

“The transition to a more sustainable Australia offers a lot of opportunities for Swedish companies to pioneer sustainable solutions in Australia.” Martin Ekberg also highlighted that there has been a shift on how we phrase the word ‘domestic’ as it is no longer only referring to having a local presence. Having a domestic operation also entails local investment in r&d, in manufacturing but also looking at export opportunities from Australia to the regional market. Other aspects for businesses to consider is to stay premium as it will always deliver value and to stay close to customers. Another recommendation is to acquire local knowhow, a local knowledge ecosystem of sorts, maybe through acquisitions.

Jennifer Mackinlay commented that despite the overwhelming challenges engendered by Covid-19, the pandemic has triggered a lot of new opportunities including potential opportunities for reinvestment in Australia. Challenges to supply chains have seen a renewed focus on resilience which in turn has underscored the role and acceleration of digital technologies as well as new technologies such as 3D printing. Australia’s renewed focus on manufacturing and digital technology across all sectors is creating opportunities for example in tele-health, telework and online education which is fast tracking the digital economy. “These strategies will help with Australia’s economic recovery but will also underline the compelling business case for investment in Australia,” said Jennifer Mackinlay.

Australia’s Low Emission Technology Statement, is recognised as another opportunity for Swedish businesses. The Australian Government is investing in the next generation of energy technologies that will deliver lower emissions, reduced costs and more jobs. With Sweden considered a global leader in this regard, Swedish businesses will be well placed to leverage this opportunity. One of the prioritised technologies in the Low Emission Technology Statement is clean hydrogen. The National Hydrogen Strategy released in 2019 sets out the initial actions needed to support an emerging domestic industry. The Australian Government’s new $1.9 billion investment package in new energy technologies includes new commitments that will support hydrogen, including $1.6 billion in new funding for ARENA, a $74.5 million Future Fuels package, and a $70.2 million to activate regional hydrogen export hubs. The National Hydrogen Strategy complemented by the Technology Investment Roadmap and Low Emission Technology Statement will enhance Australia’s energy security, will create jobs and build a hydrogen export industry.

Swedish companies offering hydrogen technology looking to invest in Australia should also explore opportunities to get involved in the hydrogen strategy pursuant to which Australia aspires to become a world leading hydrogen producer. Jennifer Mackinlay also mentioned the circular economy as another area where there is scope for Swedish investment in Australia, following Australia’s one billion dollar commitment to the transformation of Australia’s waste and recycling capacity.

  This session was moderated by Teresia Fors, Vice President of SACC.

 

Listen to the full webinar and the interactive Q&A session here.

The SACC and ABCS will continue this collaboration and aims to bring you another webinar in the near future where we will take a deeper dive into some of the topics raised during this session.

Keep your eyes on the SACC socials Linkedin and Facebook for further updates as announcements are made about future events, and check out the Recent Events and Webinars page on the SACC website for summaries and recordings of our recent presentations. Please contact us for questions and further information: sacc@swedishchamber.com.au.

Emerging stronger on the other side – What awaits us at the end of the pandemic?

On 24 September the SACC teamed up with the Swedish Chambers in the UK and Europe for this high profile virtual event “Emerging stronger on the other side”. The discussion focused on the preparation for normalcy after the pandemic for business and society. The conference featured a line-up of prominent speakers, all experts within their respective fields, including Cecilia Malmström, Visiting Professor at University of Gothenburg, and former EU Trade Commissioner, Carl-Henric Svanberg, Chairman of Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, and Chairman of Volvo Group, Ylva Berg, CEO of Business Sweden and James Sproule, UK Chief Economist at Handelsbanken. The discussions were moderated by Nik Gowing, Director and Founder of Thinking the Unthinkable and former BBC news anchor.

All participants to the discussion seemed to agree that the pandemic we currently find ourselves in will not have a clear ending. Ylva Berg concluded that ‘the other side’ will not look like what we were used to seeing before the pandemic. “I think the pandemic has affected all parts of our society in a profound way – our personal lives and business lives, but also the geopolitical and global society in a way which is something that we will have to get used to and live with for some time.” Reiterating what Cecilia Malmström and Carl-Henric Svanberg had earlier touched upon, Ylva stated that there is good transformation taking place right now at a rapid pace and that we should plan for the worst and hope for the best. “If we have a more positive view and really try to fight for that, we can both see business opportunities and also use what we have learnt during the pandemic and apply that to other areas in society.”

While starting off by stating that the UK is facing the worst recession since the second world war, James Sproule expressed optimism regarding the future. “I think that global trade and globalisation will turn more towards the sharing of ideas rather than the transfer of goods. The big driving force in the future is going to be the desire of people to talk to one another, to share ideas, processes and approaches. The people who do well in the long-term and are not the strongest but the most adaptable. I see a great deal of adaptability within many European economies and societies and I think that’s ultimately a huge strength.”

Responding to the question of what businesses will emerge stronger post-pandemic, and what the positive societal effects the pandemic will bring, Carl-Henric Svanberg concluded that digitisation offers tons of opportunities. “No one can predict exactly what the future holds and what jobs will actually emerge, but by giving entrepreneurs the right opportunities and making sure that the infrastructure is there, they will create a ton of jobs.” He also stated that we will not see a greening of economies unless we also manage to successfully digitise. “Almost every green idea that comes up is based on new technology.”

Cecilia Malmström concluded that it is necessary for politicians, government and businesses in western democracies to realise that there is something on the other side and that we must come out stronger. “It is not the first time we face a pandemic, it will not be the last time, and there will also be other huge crises. This is an opportunity to really get together and to formulate new visions and make sure that they are broadly anchored into different parts of society. It may sound a bit banal but I think that’s the only way forward.”

Did you miss the chance to attend the webinar? We have made it available on Youtube in its entirety, where you can listen in on the discussions.

Watch the webinar on Youtube

Organised by

 

 

Summary of Crypto Currency Webinar 17 September

Cryptocurrencies are used to conduct international financial transactions online without interference from financial institutions and governments. The interesting thing about cryptocurrency is that the industry is still very young and that the space is always evolving. New cryptocurrencies are popping up every day with certain projects clearly using blockchain technology better than others.

This webinar was an introduction to cryptocurrency, we talk about the history and background and answered questions like, what is cryptocurrency and why was it invented? We got an insight into the industry and market of cryptocurrency and the difference between fintech and cryptocurrency. We focused in on the largest cryptocurrency Bitcoin, explaingin how it works and why Bitcoin the largest.

The session was moderated by Linda Stanojevic, Director Avenue’s PMO, Sydney and our topic experts were:

  • Henrik Andersson, Chief Investment Officer at Apollo Capital, Melbourne 
  • Eric Wall, Chief Investment Officer at Arcane Assets, Sweden
  • Kalle Rosenbaum, Author and Bitcoin Consultant at Popeller AB, Sweden

Here are some more of the questions covered in the session:

  1. Crypto Currencies have been criticised for having no intrinsic value since they are not backed by anything. However, on a philosophical level, one can argue that gold does not have much intrinsic value either. In the end, the value of something is determined by what someone else is willing to pay for it. However, with Crypto Currencies the situation is more complicated. The barriers to entry are not too high with more than 4,000 cryptocurrencies in existence. In theory, you can have an infinite number of different Crypto Currencies with an infinite number of Crypto Coins created. Does this have an implication for the long-term value of Crypto Currencies?
  2. While 4,000+ Crypto Currencies are in existence, most of them are micro caps. Is there a long-term argument for having that many Crypto Currencies in the market? In other words, why would you look beyond the largest Crypto Currencies? 
  3. Different Asset Classes appeal to different type of investors. Stocks and bonds are bought by both retail and professional/institutional investors. Investments in Venture Capital, Private Equity and FX (currencies) are usually done by professional/institutional investors. What is driving the investment in Crypto Currencies? What type of investment horizon do investors hold?
  4. When investing in traditional Asset Classes such as stocks, advanced investors do stock picking while less advanced buy funds or ETFs. Are there fund/ETF equivalents in the Crypto Market? Are they viable investment vehicles considering counter-party risks?
  5. Similar to the traditional Finance Industry where brokerages have gone bust (Lehman Brothers), so have also Crypto Currency brokerages/exchanges gone bust. What recommendations do you have regarding selecting exchanges/brokerages for Crypto Currency trading? Is a cold wallet a must? 
  6. Currency trading is significant among institutional and professional investors. Besides so-called Stable Coins that have been specifically designed to peg their value against something else (e.g. US Dollars), Crypto Currencies have exhibited extreme volatility over time. Bitcoin value to AUD changed by $4 just in July. Do you see Crypto Currencies such as Bitcoin start stabilising and behaving like normal currencies? In what time frame and why?

Listen to the full webinar and the interactive Q&A session here.

Moderator:

Linda Stanojevic, Director Avenue’s PMO, Sydney

Linda has comprehensive experience in financial services, start-ups, and telecommunications. She has worked with technology and product innovation in Telecommunications (Ericsson), traditional Financial Services (CBA, Westpac), FinTech and NeoBanks. She has a Master of Science in Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and is currently building a new Australian Business Bank, Avenue, together with a lean start-up team in Sydney.LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lindastanojevic/

 

 

 

Panellists: 

Henrik Andersson, Chief Investment Officer at Apollo Capital, Melbourne

Henrik has over 17 years experience in global financial markets, with almost a decade on Wall Street. Henrik has extensive experience across three continents as a quantitative analyst, senior research analyst and in institutional equity sales. Henrik holds a Master of Science in Engineering Physics from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and a Master of Science in Business Administration and Economics from Stockholm University. Henrik is a CFA charter holder. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/henrikandersson/

 

 

 

Eric Wall, Chief Investment Officer at Arcane Assets, Sweden

A well-known cryptocurrency expert in Sweden and internationally. He is the former head of blockchain and cryptocurrency at Cinnober. Eric holds a MSc in Engineering, Information and Communication Engineering Technologies from Lund University, and wrote his master’s thesis about blockchain technology. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ercwl/

 

 

 

 

Kalle Rosenbaum, Author and Bitcoin Consultant at Popeller AB, Sweden
Kalle Rosenbaum is the author of Grokking Bitcoin, a technical odyssey of Bitcoin. He is a Bitcoin technology expert, working mostly
with software development in the Bitcoin space. Kalle founded Popeller, a Bitcoin consultancy firm, in 2015. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kallerosenbaum/

 

Introducing – EXPERIENCE SHARING SESSIONS

New at the Embassy of Sweden

Team Sweden Initiative – Smart Cities Australia

ENTER FOR THE 2020 SWEDISH BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA AWARDS

Digitalise and Streamline Your Business with Pagero