September 2016
WORDS FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
 
Autumn is approaching Washington , D.C. and with the upcoming general election, it is more exciting than ever. Opinion polls vary, but it looks like it will be a tight race for the White House. What are the two candidates up to, do they have something up their sleeve , or as we Swedes say, in their back pocket? New strategies, revelations, or even scandals  -  what is next to come?
 
In any event, SACC-USA had a great first half of 2016. We welcomed numerous new members and we organized successful events, such as the Executive Forum. The forum, which was held in May gathered over 60 top Swedish and American business leaders in D.C. We also placed more young professionals in training programs in the U.S. than the previous record year. The Swedish interest in the United States is very strong and the upcoming election makes it even stronger.
 
On November 2 , SACC-USA and SACC-DC will hold the SACC Summit 2016. Our Regional Chambers and Business Members will gather in Washington D.C. for networking, information sharing, planning, and learning. One of the topics on the agenda is of course the election and we have a number of interesting speakers such as H.E. Björn Lyrvall, Ambassador of Sweden to the U.S; Natalia Brzezinski, CEO, Symposium Stockholm; American  media personality Chris Core; and journalist Karin Henriksson, to name only a few. Please email Mikaela Mijatovic at [email protected] for an invitation or check out our webpage.
 
The SACC-USA network is evidence that there are very strong business ties between the U .S. and Sweden.  This fall, SACC-USA will continue to develop our fantastic network. We will be more efficient, provide more services, and deliver more value for our 19 Regional Chambers and our Business Members. SACC-USA is unique: 19 Regional Chambers create an amazing network for all Swedish-American companies and deliver services and events all over the U.S. If you, as a company or as an individual, are not already a member in a chamber, please contact us or a Regional Chamber for an introduction. The network provides access to a continent of opportunities - and our members provide legitimacy and strength. 



Sincerely,

  
COMING SOON
Join us in celebrating 28 years of promoting a Swedish-American trade network!

Save the date for the 2016 edition of SACC-USA's annual event SACC Summit - we are gathering members, partners and 19 regional chambers for networking, information sharing, planning and learning. This year's summit is held in Washington, D.C. and is  co-hosted  with SACC-DC. Panels, talks and discussions will be centered around the 2016 U.S election,  transformational  information and updates and insights from the Embassy of Sweden. The event will take place about one week prior to Election Day and this will be an exciting time to be in Washington, D.C.
INSIGHTS
THERE IS A POLL FOR THAT

So who will win the U.S. presidential election, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? There is a plethora of polls by various pollsters which obtain their data using different methodologies and different polling samples , resulting in different statistical margins of error, and perhaps also in different degrees of objectivity.

On August 31, a Fox News poll indicated that Clinton will get 41% of the vote compared to 39% for Donald J. Trump. On September 2,  The New York Times' Upshot predicted 43% for Clinton and 40% for Donald J. Trump. The same day, CNN  reported that five nationwide polls averaged 42% for Clinton, 37% for Trump while Real Clear Politics reported a polling data average of 41% for Clinton and 38% for Trump. On September 6, a CNN/OCR poll indicated that Trump has pulled ahead with 45% to Clinton's 43%.

While Hillary Clinton is leading over Trump in most polls, there seems to be a general agreement that her lead has been reduced from approximately 10 points after the July conventions to 5 points or less today. If the poll also includes the third-party candidates Jill Stein (Green Party) and Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), Clinton's lead is even smaller.  Will Clinton's lead be enough come November 8? The New York Times Upshot claims that her current lead translates into an 87% chance of winning.

The electoral college consists of 538 electors: 435 representatives based on the size of the population of each state plus the 100 senators, plus three electors from Washington, D.C. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

A Washington Post/Survey Monkey poll concludes that while Clinton and Trump hold the lead in approximately 20 states each, the difference  lies in that fact that the states leaning towards Clinton add up to 244 electoral  votes whereas the states  leaning towards Trump add up to 126. 

But who really knows? This election cycle has proved to be anything but predictable. Clinton's email server issue is not going away. Trump took a rather placatory stance on immigration during his visit to Mexico but just hours later in Arizona he took quite a different stance on the very same issue. Given such controversies , not to mention what might happen in world news between now and early November, public opinion may continue to shift - and polls will change. The only thing eCurrents can say with certainty is that the presidential debates will be held on September 26,  October 9, and October 19. The vice presidential debate will be on October 4. 
 

THE W ORLDS MOST COMPETITIVE ECONOMIES 2016
The U.S and Sweden both made it to top ten

This summer, the research group IMD World Competitiveness Center (IMD), published a ranking of the 2016 most c om petit ive economies. IMD has been publishing each year's ranking since 1989 and it is  regarded as the primary annual assessment of competitive countries. The  2016 edition ranks China Hon g Kong first, Switzerland second and the U.S. third. Singapore, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada complete the top ten ranking. IMD's director, Arturo Bris, said a consistent commitment to a promising environment was central to Hong Kong's rise and that Switzerland's small size and the importance it places on a commitment to quality have allowed it to react fast to keep its economy on top. Bris claims that there is a pattern in the top countries, which is a focus on business-friendly regulation, physical and intangible infrastructure, and inclusive institutions. 


Read more about the 2016 ranking  here!
 
 


DISAGREEMENTS ON TTIP
Germany and France are not sold on the details 

The Translantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations between the U.S and EU, already three years in the making, have been discussed widely this past week. French President François Hollande announced his reluctance to support the deal in its current format. In a speech to French ambassadors President Hollande highlighted his dissatisfaction with its process and potential unbalanced outcome for workers in the EU. France has been skeptical about TTIP from its inception and now suggests the American side has offered little concessions in the negotiations. Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's Economic Minister, argued a similar opposition to TTIP last week, claiming that negotiations with the U.S have failed.  On the other hand, Swedish politician and minister for European Union Affairs and Trade, Ann Lindé, disagrees with the French and German views, calling on leaders to remain positive about TTIP. Lindé maintains that the negotiations have not broken down.

Read more about it  here  and here!
SCA IS PLANNING TO DIVIDE THEIR BUSINESS 
SCA will present a proposal in 2017

Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA),  the global leading hygiene and fore st company, is planning to divide into two divisions; a hygiene division and a forest product division. SCA will present a proposal at its annual general meeting 2017. Dividing up into two business units is seen as the best way  for the company to continue to create shareholder value, customer benefits an d further development opportunities, according to Magnus Groth, President and CEO of SCA. Furthermor e, SCA's bord of directors believes that the proposal to split  their two business into two would increase the ability for each business to successfully  realize its strategies and create value. 

Read more about SCA and their new business strategy here!                                                                                                                                                                           image source
 
AMERICA DAY AT ALMEDALEN
U.S. ambassador to Sweden visited Almedalen

The American Chamber of Commerce in Sweden hosted their first ever America Day on July 4th in Visby. America Day was a big success and involved conversations including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), innovation, big data, and the U.S. presidential election. Read more  here!
 
H.E. Azita Raji, U.S. ambassador to Sweden, visited Almedalen and spoke at America Day. Ambassador Raji was born in Iran and fled to the U.S. as a teenager. She has a background in finance and has worked for J.P. Morgan and Salomon Brothers, among others. She is also a former member of the Bretton Woods Committee. After having left the financial sector in 2008, Ambassador Raji has been a prominent supporter president Obama. 

At Almedalen, the ambassador spoke about her first impressions of Sweden; how aware Swedes are of the rest of the world, both politically and globally, the latter being something she is very passionate about. Additionally, Ambassador Raji spoke about the American Dream being about making a living for yourself and your family based on effort and abilities and living in a country that allows you to do that. 
 
Ambassador Raji expressed optimism about the future of America. Based on her experience in the finance world, she recognizes that chaos in the market also means opportunities. It is important to exert leadership and base policies on facts and long term interests rather than fear and isolation, she said. Finally, Ambassador Raji spoke about the future of T-TIP and the benefits of such a trade agreement, which she feels very positively about.
 
  Listen to Tove Lifvendahl, political chief of editing, interviewing Azita Raji at Almedalen, here!
71 ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL START
IKEA's and UNHCR's project will be presented at the opening

The 71st UN General Assembly session will take place September 13-20 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.  The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the UN.  Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. Decisions on other questions are by simple majority. By tradition,  Brazil is the first Member State to speak in the general debate, followed by the U.S. Read more about the agenda and session  here!
 
The Better Shelter Housing, a collaboration by IKEA and UNHCR will be presented at the opening days. The mission of Better Shelter project is to develop and provide innovative housing solutions for people displaced by natural disasters or conflicts. It provides weatherproof and  sustainable temporary shelter, which offer people a cost-effective solution. Learn about Better Shelter  here!
SWEDEN IS THE WORLD'S SECOND MOST INNOVATIVE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO THE GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX
European economies were ranked the world's most innovative countries

Switzerland was ranked as the most innovative economy, followed by Sweden and the UK, in the annual Global Innovation Index (GII). The U.S took the fourth position; Finland and Singapore were fifth and sixth. China became the first middle-income economy to join the top 25 of the GII, which has been historically dominated by the developed economies. 

The report also indicates that Europe benefits from strong institutions and well-developed infrastructure, while room for improvements were found in business knowledge, sophistication and technology outputs. 

Read the full version of the report here!





AUGUST, THE MONTH OF CRAYFISH FEASTS!
The Swedish tradition to mark the end of the summer

Many of our Regional Chambers are hosting crayfish feasts around the U.S and Sweden during the months of August and September. 

Crayfish have been eaten in Sweden ever since the 1500s. Originally, crayfish was used in the making of sausage, patties or puddings. But in the mid-1800s people began to eat Crayfish as they are eaten today - cold with bread and strong cheese, such as Västerbotten, along with beer and schnapps. 

Celebrating Crayfish in the month of August spread in the 1900s and it became a national delicacy.  Crayfish feasts are held outdoors with colored paper lanterns and guests wearing bibs and comic paper hats.  Typically, the Crayfish party marks the end of the summer for Swedes.


Read more about the Swedish tradition  here!  

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN VISITED STOCKHOLM 
Global responsibility for migration and refugees on the agenda

During his August 25 visit to Sweden, Vice President Joe Biden discussed migration, refugees and global challenges with the Swedish leadership. During a press conference, Vice President Biden highlighted the leadership of Sweden and Prime Minister Löfven in handling last year's refugee crisis. He praised Sweden for taking in a record number of refugees fleeing violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. VP Biden also commented on the good relations between Sweden and the U.S. 
 

Read more about the press conference here!                                                              Image source
WHAT YOU GIVE IS WHAT YOU GET
Mentor Foundation and the Brava Awards 

Mentor Foundation USA is an affiliate of Mentor International, founded in 1994 by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden and the World Health Organization. Since then, the organization has grown to support 6 million  young people in over 80 countries.  Mentor Foundation USA's President and CEO, Gunilla Girardo, recently received the SmartCEO Brava Award for her leadership of an organization dedicated to the important work of preventing drug abuse among youth and help them realize their potential. An independent committee of local business leaders selects the Brava Award winners each year b ased on company growth, community impact and mentoring. Since joining Mentor Foundation USA in 2014, Ms. Girardo has more than doubled its revenue and developed a plan to expand the organization nationally. 
"I believe young people are our most important natural resource and that it's everyone's business and r esponsibility to invest in young people. I also believe that a  company that's not investing in its community is truly not investing in its own company,"  says Gunilla Girardo, Mentor Foundation USA.

Furthermore, Gir ardo explains:
"We view prevention and youth development as a collective civil responsibility; therefore, we partner with the business community, government agencies, schools and parents to create healthy and productive pathways for youth. Our programs inspire and motivate youth to higher academic achievements and empower them to make healthy drug-free decisions."
 

Learn more about CSR here!
Learn more about Mentor Foundation here!
ARE THE NEW SWEDISH BANKNOTES REALLY EQUAL?
Sweden gets new banknotes and coins in 2015 and 2016

Gender equality is an important value in Swedish culture. That is why the new Swedish banknotes have been subject to scrutiny, even though they feature three women and three men.  Critics accused Riksbanken of insinuation that women are "worth less."
Riksbanken responded that they started with the lowest bank note, the 20 kronor, and pictured Astrid Lindgren, author of Childrens' books and loved by Swedes all ages.  For the ascending notes, they decided to switc h between a man and a woman on every other banknote.  (ex. 20 kronor is a woman, 50 kronor a man, etc.)  Another argument Riksbanken had was that the most popular bill to be circulating is the 500 kronor, which will feature a woman, opera singer Birgit Nilsson.  Sounds like good arguments to us! 

Read more about new banknotes and coins  here!

                                                                          


 

IKEA MUSEUM OPENS IN ÄLMHULT, SWEDEN

The Swedish global furniture store IKEA is now operating in 25 countries with 17.7 billion dollars in annual sales. In June of this year an IKEA Museum opened up in Älmhult, Sweden. The museum is located where the owner, Ingvar Kamprad, first opened up his store in 1958. Kamprad started the company at the age of 17.  Kamprad's early entrepreneurial tendencies made him one of the richest  men on earth today.

The museum celebrates the  company's history and has a classroom on the first floor with workshops and seminars that focus on entrepreneurship, technology, design, history, and learning. The museum tells stories about Swedish furniture and displays many famous products made by IKEA such as bookshelves, uniforms from the 1960s (when IKEA expanded internationally) and of course, meatballs. Carina Kloek-Malmsten, manager of the museum, says that the museum helps visitors  "come into close contact with the story of IKEA."

Read more about the museum here!  


SACC-USA VISITS CAPITOL HILL
Tour of the U.S. Government 

SACC-USA's new interns had the wonderful opportunity to tour Capitol Hill and gain a better understanding of Congressional politics and decision making. Jakob Muratov, a Swedish intern at the office of Illinois Congressman Randy Hultgren, led the tour. 

Jakob also talked about his interest in the vibrant economic connection that binds the U.S. and Sweden.  "We share strong cultural ties, with approximately 14 million Americans of Swedish descent. In fact, the entrepreneurial spirit of America was spurred by the work of Swedes in the creation of several  Swedish-American companies such as the Greyhound bus line  and Walgreens, one of America's largest drugstore chains."
 
TRAINEE SUCCESS STORIES
A NEAT INTERNATIONAL STORY SPANNING TWO GENERATIONS
 
Tom Koch was born and raised in Iowa. Since it was not as common to travel to Europe during his childhood, his mother decided to invite exchange students into their home in Iowa, in order to expose her children to other cultures. This is how Tom Koch first was introduced to European and Scandinavian cultures. 
"I started to get interested in the Swedish culture and desired to learn more about it."

Being exposed to Scandinavian culture inspired Tom to take a gap year in 1976, while studying at Harvard University, to go to Sweden and work for the company  Atlas Copco , located in Nacka. Working for Atlas Copco and staying with a Swedish family for a year not only taught Tom to speak Swedish but also taught him the business climate and living culture of Sweden. Today, about 40 years later, he works for  PBS Distribution in Boston, which, in fact, is doing business with Swedish companies such as SVT, Utbildningsradion and Vetenskapens värld. This means that Tom's language skills in Swedish and knowledge of Scandinavian culture became very valuable, even though he did not expect it while working and living in Sweden as a young man. This neat international story continues since Tom currently has a Swedish trainee, Jonatan Arnö, at PBS. Tom says that SACC-USA's J1-visa service made is easy for PBS to offer a trainee position for Jonatan. Tom values having a Swedish trainee at PBS and believes that it is very beneficial for the company to have international trainees.

Jonatan Arnö was born and raised in Stockholm and has always been interested in traveling. Previously Jonatan studied in Los Angeles, volunteered in Kenya and worked for Save the Children in China. He is currently studying law at Stockholm University and is doing a 3 month traineeship at PBS in Boston this summer. Jonatan is in the section for international distribution and is involved in several interesting projects and major changes that PBS is facing. Jonatan appreciates that he gets to use his knowledge of law in an international environment, as well as working on business projects that he normally would not do, both independently and in teams.  Jonatan is staying with an American family during his traineeship, which helps introduce him to the American culture. Jonatan believes his time as a trainee in the U.S. is very important for his future career. 
 
"I not only get perspective on the American business culture, but also the Swedish. I now realize what I appreciate and not appreciate with the business culture of Sweden."
NEW MEMBERS
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME
Oil group

OIL Group is a leading Swedish executive search company with headquarters in Stockholm, established in 2000. OIL's consultants are highly experienced and offer services within executive search, mentorship, management team development and interim management. OIL  offers their services globally through an international network of executive search partners with strong local knowledge. OIL's success is based on strong commitment, continuous exchange of knowledge, well-defined processes and a well-structured working relationship in their assignments.  Please read more  here!
 
OIL Group is also one of the driving forces of AutoKineto which is an international executive search service for the automotive industry. AutoKineto responds to the growing needs within automotive to recruit leaders and individual contributors.   AutoKineto has representation in Europe, the Americas and Asia and possesses a unique blend of automotive and international executive search experience, to assist both domestic and international companies. AutoKineto offers access to the industry's top talent, regardless of geography.  Please read more  here!
SPECIAL OFFERS
Offer to SACC Members from Volvo 
Benefits with Volvo's A-Plan Plus membership  

Volvo's transformation is in full bloom with new models and new product investments such as Drive-E power trains and connectivity that links Volvo cars to the world. Refined Scandinavian design and safety strengthen Volvo's commitment to its "Designed Around You" philosophy.  Volvo would therefore like to invite SACC members to become A-Plan Plus members, which is a level of service developed exclusi vely for SACC members that is only available through Volvo's A-Plan Plus specialists at Volvo Cars of North America. The offer includes:

-Transparent A-Plan discounted pricing, being approximately 6% off MSRP on eligible models ( the same price Volvo Car USA employees pay).

-An additional $500 bonus on top of any local incentives and offers on eligible models.

Choose where to pick up your new Volvo in the U.S. or in Sweden through our Overseas Delivery Program.


SACC members: email  [email protected] to get your pin number.

Offer to SACC Members from Orrefors & Kosta Boda
40% discount on opening order for all products

F or almost 275 years, Orrefors and Kosta Boda have created crystal and glassware of the finest quality, influenced by the beauty of Sweden's nature.  Orrefors  released a line of Craft Beer glasses  and has also worked with Volvo to create a crystal gearshift for the new 2016 Volvo CX90. Kosta Boda is renowned for its ingenious and dynamic designs and is a leader in the glassware and art glass field.  Together these companies hold a strong role in the international market and are expected to continue to grow. 

SACC members can enjoy a 40% discount off of retail prices on your opening order for all Orrefors and Kosta Boda products.

SACC members: please contact Donna Nardella, Corporate Director, at [email protected] for the discount.
SACC REGIONAL CHAMBER EVENTS
What's Happening at Our Regional Chambers

September 8th
SACC-Georgia has partnered up with Serenbe to bring you an exclusive event with a focus on environmental development, energy conservation and sustainability in today's business climate. Corporate social responsibility and environmental issues are among the fastest growing concerns for companies, shareholders and business owners, with the Nordic countries being at the forefront of these recent trending and important developments. 

Learn more here on SACC-Georgia's webpage!

September 14th
SACC-DC invites to a a Pre-tournament hockey game. Come watch some of the greatest Ice Hockey players in the world at Verizon Center as the most beloved Swedish national team, Team Sweden plays against Team Europe.

Learn more here on SACC-DC's webpage!

October 11-14 (dates may change)
SACC-Arizona invites you to attend the 2016 Trade Summit Sweden Days. The event is focusing on three industries that are very compatible between Sweden and Arizona. 

Learn more here on SACC-Arizona's webpage!