Business Climate Survey Australia Launch Event I 26 May 2026
Key Insights & Event Summary
On 26 May 2026, Team Sweden in Australia — the Embassy of Sweden, Business Sweden and the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) — welcomed members of the Swedish-Australian business community to the launch of the Business Climate Survey Australia 2026 at Business Sweden’s Sydney office.
The event brought together business leaders, government representatives and industry stakeholders to explore the latest insights from Swedish companies operating in Australia, while also discussing the broader economic outlook, regional trends across APAC and the opportunities emerging from the recently finalised EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement.
The evening commenced with a welcome and introduction by Camilla Jennings, General Manager of SACC, followed by an official welcome from H.E. Klas Molin, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia and New Zealand. Ambassador Molin highlighted the importance of the Business Climate Survey as a valuable tool for both companies and policymakers in understanding market conditions, opportunities and challenges facing Swedish businesses in Australia. The Ambassador encouraged companies to actively participate in future surveys, noting the importance of increasing participation from the Australian market to strengthen the quality of insights, benchmarking and visibility of the Swedish business presence in Australia within the broader global survey framework. He also highlighted the strong and growing relationship between Sweden and Australia and the opportunities for further growth and collaboration through the recently signed EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Tommie Åkesson, Acting Country Manager for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands at Business Sweden, introduced the survey and its role in providing valuable market intelligence and benchmarking insights for Swedish companies across global markets.
The survey presentation, delivered by Malin Bååt and Karin Ericsson from Business Sweden, provided a comprehensive overview of business sentiment, market performance and future expectations among Swedish companies in Australia.
See key survey takeaways below and view the presentation here: BCS 2026 Presentation
Panel Discussion & Industry Perspectives
The panel discussion was moderated by Penny George, Vice President SACC and Corporate Affairs Director, AstraZeneca, and featured:
- Julian Bechini, Country Holding Officer and Managing Director, ABB Australia
- Sandra Nordenhager, Senior Sales Manager APAC, Mentimeter
- Lauren Pulitano, Vice President Public Affairs, Volvo Group Australia
- Simon Clayton, Assistant Secretary, Agriculture and Non-Tariff Barrier Branch, DFAT
The discussion provided valuable perspectives from industry and government on the current business climate, future opportunities and key challenges for Swedish companies operating in Australia.
Main Discussion Points Included
- Australia’s continued attractiveness as a stable and strategically important market for Swedish companies
- Growing opportunities linked to sustainability, electrification, digitalisation and AI-driven innovation
- The increasing importance of sustainability as both a customer expectation and competitive advantage
- Challenges relating to skills shortages, workforce capability and attracting specialised talent
- The role of innovation, technology adoption and collaboration in driving long-term competitiveness
- The strength and reputation of Swedish brands in the Australian market
- Evolving customer expectations and changing market conditions across industries
- The importance of strong collaboration between business, government and academia
- Opportunities arising from the recently finalised EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement, including improved market access, reduced trade barriers and strengthened European-Australian business collaboration
The panel also highlighted the importance of maintaining long-term investment confidence, fostering innovation partnerships and continuing to strengthen bilateral ties between Sweden and Australia.
Key Survey Takeaways
Continued Confidence in Australia
The survey confirmed that Swedish companies continue to view Australia as an attractive and stable long-term market with strong growth potential. Many businesses reported positive performance and an optimistic outlook for the years ahead.
Sustainability as a Business Strength
Swedish companies continue to leverage sustainability as a key competitive advantage in Australia. Significant opportunities were identified within clean energy, electrification, sustainable infrastructure, circular economy initiatives and advanced manufacturing.
Innovation & Technology Opportunities
Respondents highlighted continued opportunities linked to digitalisation, AI, automation and smart technologies. Collaboration between business, academia and government was recognised as increasingly important for driving innovation and competitiveness.
Skills & Workforce Challenges
Access to skilled talent remains a key challenge for many companies. Businesses noted the ongoing importance of attracting international talent, developing future workforce capabilities and addressing skills shortages in technical and specialised fields.
Regional & APAC Perspectives
The presentation also included comparisons with selected APAC markets and previous survey results, providing valuable insights into how business sentiment and market conditions are evolving across the region.
EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement
The recently finalised EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement was signed post the survey and will be a major positive development for Swedish and European businesses operating in Australia. The agreement is expected to strengthen trade, investment and market access opportunities while supporting closer long-term collaboration between Europe and Australia.
View the full survey here: BCS Report Australia 2026
The event concluded with audience Q&A and networking, providing valuable opportunities for continued discussion and connection.
A special thank you to H.E. Klas Molin, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia, to Business Sweden for hosting the event, to the panel moderator, speakers and presenters for sharing valuable insights and perspectives, and to all participants who contributed to an engaging and insightful evening.
