Words of a Board Member

2009 is not over yet. A year that can already be characterized as a recovery-year is to end in a few weeks time.
So far 2009 was still highly influenced worldwide by the historic financial and following economic crisis. Many companies faced challenges to cope with the fast changing market circumstances. As always these are the moments that better companies can excel and this was exactly what happened. But for all companies it meant that management and employees had to work together close this year. A strong common goal intensifies relationships as well as commitment to the company, which might be one of the advantages of the time we are in.
But as said, 2009 is not over yet. This has all to do with the upcoming Copenhagen UN Climate Conference. The world is currently divided into three groups. The first group strongly believes that based on massive scientific material and statistics, the world is facing a dramatic climate change in the coming 20 years. The second group is by far the largest and is waiting for the things to come or happen. The third group is a group of skeptic persons that do not – based on other scientists – believe that the climate is changing through men’s action.
Somehow the drastic measures that are needed to stop the global warming are difficult to combine with an open discussion between the different groups. Unfortunately, since the chances that first group will convince the third group, or the other way around are close to zero.
Personally I think it is most likely that there is a strong connection between Carbon and Climate. And if the consequences are so extreme, the question is if we would like to gamble on the outcome.  Just before the conference starts the general feeling is that most world leaders will accept the necessity for change. And if we all will change in the same pace, there will be no short term competitive advantages for those who hold their horses.
Whatever the outcome of ‘Copenhagen’ will be, the world will be changing towards a lower carbon output-economy rapidly. All companies will have to develop strong strategies to face this change, which will mean definitely more challenges to come. Though it would be good to make this process more opportunity- instead of fear driven. It will lead to a situation in which we will live more in balance with nature, who can be against that? Many small steps will make that we arrive in a better world. My first deed in the new year will be that my new car only emits 125 grams of Carbon per kilometer. I am sure that my next car will be a zero-emission car.

All best wishes for our future, Jesse Kuijper
Kinnarps


Swe-News December 2009

Dear Members,
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank you for all your support and loyalty during 2009! You are the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and we are very proud to have been able to serving you for nearly a half century! That is why it is a great honor to invite you all to celebrate the 50th Anniversary Year 2010 with a fantastic Anniversary program from January till December highlighted by the Seminar and Gala Ball in October when Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will honor us with her presence.
Please feel welcome to use the Anniversary year to introduce your valued business colleagues to the Swedish – Dutch business network and to join you at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Anniversary Events! As always your input very valued  and therefore we welcome you to contact us for ideas and comments how to improve the program and activities or how your company can contribute and benefit even more to the Swedish – Dutch Business Network.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the interns Sara Adamzon, Peter Gerdin and Jennie Wennerholm for their fantastic input and commitment. Their devotion to the Chamber has been most appreciated and we wish them all the best for the future!
 
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce whish you all a very merry Christmas and
A Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to welcoming you to a fantastic Swe-Cham year 2010!
New Members
It is with great pleasure the Swedish Chamber of Commerce welcomes the following new members to the Swedish - Dutch Network platform!

Billerud Benelux B.V.
Mr. Gerrit Kees Brouwer
http://www.billerud.com/

Nordholm Design & Communication
Mrs. Carolina de Klerk Nordholm
http://www.nordholmdesign.com/

Reitsma & Wertheim & Polano BV
Mr. Robert Polano
http://www.rwp.nl/

SCAN COIN - Borsu Systema B.V.
Abey Leveldt
http://www.scbs.nl/

Greater Than S.A.
Mr. Carl-Ivar Ahlqvist
http://www.greaterthan.eu/

Senior individual member
Mr. Bo Lindgren
How is business?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each month the Swedish Chamber takes the pulse and ask a Member company how their business is going?

HEX Travel BV, Amsterdam
2009 has been a real rollercoaster ride for us. We make reservations for business travelers , conferences, groups and incentives in Holland and Belgium and have of course seen a decrease in traveling during this year. Not only because companies traveled less. People tend to stay shorter at hotels. Although it is heavy weather in the traveling industry, we see how important it is to stay focused and believe in your product. We have received a lot of gratitude for well organized tours to mention a few branches; architects and engineers. So stay focused and innovative, and it will pay off for sure. We wish you all lots of success in 2010!

TUIJA JOKISAARI, Owner/Managing Director
HEX Travel BV


Securitas: being the Knowledge leader
The security market is changing into a pro active total security solutions market. Knowing our customers and their markets, Securitas offers her customers tailored security services meeting their specific industry demands. Our employees play an essential role in this and make the difference for our customers. That our segmentation and specialisation strategy works has been proven by obtaining various specific segment related assignments of which most recently the RET, a very large public transportation company in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Overall we notice that security becomes more and more a boardroom issue, rather than being a closing entry of the budget. Our customers realise that an optimal security is essential for maintaining continuity of their business. Despite this positive development it is still a challenge to convince customers they have to pay a little extra for the added value of specialised security guards. Especially in the economical crisis where saving money prevails from quality of service.

VINZ VAN ES, Managing Director
Securitas
Member News

Company presentation: Nordholm Design & Communication
Classic style Graphic Design for small companies, non-profit and organisations
Carolina de Klerk Nordholm is a freelance graphic designer, specialised in the classic elegant style of print media. When working with Nordholm Design & Communication you benefit from easy communication in your own language, fast progress thanks to accurate work and a strong attention to detail, maximum service also for mini budgets, and always the same contact person. She is passionate about classic style design, languages, cultures and perfection in layout and text. With Nordholm you can have both the design and a multilingual text editing service. Working languages: Swedish, English, Dutch, Italian and German.

www.nordholmdesign.com

Contact person: Carolina de Klerk Nordholm
Managing Director Nordholm Design & Communication

Upcoming Program

January 20, 2010
New Year's Reception
The Members of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and JCC are welcome to the traditional New Years Reception hosted by The Ambassador of Sweden Mr. Hans Magnusson and Mrs. Elisabeth Magnusson. Personal invitation has been sent to all members. R.S.V.P. before 13 January to info@swedishchamber.nl or 020-3203226.

January 28, 2010
Swedish night with Camilla Norrback and Volvo during Amsterdam Fashion week.
Hot Design from Cool Sweden!
For the first time ever there will be an evening dedicated to the best of Swedish design during Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW). Swedish fashion emerges fast in the Benelux at the moment. That's why the Swedish car company Volvo teamed up with the fast growing Swedish brand Camilla Norrback to organize a big and inspiring fashion event together with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Are You Swedish? 
Swedish Fashion Route Amsterdam 2010.
To celebrate Swedish design in Amsterdam, Volvo, Are You Swedish? and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome you to explore Swedish fashion through the Swedish Fashion Route Amsterdam 2010. It is an exquisite Shopping Route with 16 different Swedish shops and stores selling Swedish top brands from H&M to Filippa K, the ecoluxury brand Camilla Norrback and many more.

The route will take you to every fashion corner of Amsterdam: from the Nine Streets to the Museum District and from De Pijp to Oud West.

Invitation and information will follow!

February 11, 2010
16.00 – 18.00
Welcome to The European Space Agency (ESA) and European Space Research and Technology Centre the European gateway to space in Noordwijk. Presentation and tour of ESA & ESTEC by Mr. Martin Johansson, Galileo Payload Manager at the directorate of Galileo Programme and Navigation-related activities.

February 17, 2010
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce Patron Kick-off dinner at the Residence of the Swedish Ambassador Mr. Hans Magnusson. Keynote speaker and Honorary Guest: Mr. Magnus Hall, CEO Holmen

March 19, 2010
Swedish Chamber of Commerce Master Class Luncheon. Keynote speaker and Honorary Guest: Mr. Stephen Odell, President and CEO Volvo Car Corporation.
Swe-Cham Study Trip June 17 – 20 June, 2010

Stockholm – European Green Capital 2010 & Love Stockholm 2010

Welcome to sign up for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Study Trip 2010. The Swedish capital – which will be the first European Green Capital in 2010 – has the ambitious target of saying goodbye to fossils by 2050. The Swedish Chamber will visit Hammarbysjöstad and other Green projects during this City trip.

Welcome to Love Stockholm 2010
This summer, Stockholm looks forward to the Royal Wedding June 19, 2010. In conjunction with Crown Princess Victoria’s and Mr Daniel Westling’s wedding, the City of Stockholm invites all to join in the fabulous festivities. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce Study Trip participants will get a chance to feel the love in the air in Stockholm during the weekend following the Study Trip.

Limited seats available therefore make your pre-reservation today to make sure you are on board for this fantastic Study Trip!

 

   Photo source: http://international.stockholm.se
Photographer: Christer Lundin
Seminar/Gala Ball October 28, 2010
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce Anniversary Seminar and Gala Ball.
Honorary Guest: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

The Seminar will focus on Innovation and Sustainability with highly ranked speakers from the business and political field in Sweden and The Netherlands. The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will be attending both the Seminar and Gala Ball.

More information will follow.

Photo source: www.imagebank.sweden.se
Photographer: Anders Wiklund
Copyright: Anders Wiklund/Scanpix
Passed Program

    

Swe-Cham Lucia Dinner and Dance
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce was much honored to welcoming a great number of members and their guests to the Annual Lucia Dinner at WestCord Hotel Delft Friday December 11, 2010. We were very pleased to present a great opening with the acrobatic art the Tissue Act, solo song by Mr. Martijn Hop and the Lucia preformed by members of the Swedish Seaman Church choir, the JCC and children from the American School of The Hague. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank WestCord Hotel and Inter-IKEA-Systems for the fantastic co-operation and Peter Andersson and his team for preparing the fantastic Christmas Buffet. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce Annual Lucia Dinner is a wonderful tradition celebrated together with colleagues and friends and a fantastic opening of the Christmas season.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would cordially like to thank the following sponsors:

JCC - Young Professionals

 

 
The Traditional JCC Lucia Party at the beautiful premises of hotel Pulitzer in Amsterdam, Saturday December 12 was a great success! Pulitzer Bar was crowded with JCC members and their guests who mingled and enjoyed themselves with glögg and gingerbread, generously offered by Inter IKEA Systems B.V. The JCC committee put on a spectacular Lucia show which was very much appreciated by the guests with happy smiles and loud applauds! And when the guests where invited to sing “Hej Tomtegubbar” together with the Lucia choir everybody joined in and you could really feel the Swedish Christmas atmosphere!
The JCC committee would like to thank the members for a fantastic year! We are now looking forward to 2010, the 50th Anniversary year of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce with a lot of exciting activities, both with JCC and the Swedish Chamber.

The first JCC event of 2010 will be New Years drinks, Thursday January 14. Invitations will be sent out shortly after the holidays. Don't forget to check the website regularly for information about future events!  

The JCC committee would like to wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce 50th Anniversary Sponsors

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would cordially like to thank the following sponsors for supporting the Swedish Chamber 50 Years Anniversary!
 




De Ruyterkade 5 | 1013 AA Amsterdam | The Netherlands | Tel: 020 3203226 | Fax: 020 6240777 | Mail: info@swedishchamber.nl