Since 1989 SACC-DC has offered a platform for developing U.S. – Swedish lucrative commercial ventures and professional opportunities through our network and business and social events. The SACC-DC Newsletter will help you stay on top of what’s happening in the Swedish-American business community and find the perfect opportunity to create new business connections in the greater Washington D.C. area and Mid-Atlantic region. |
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From the Executive Director |
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Dear Friends,
2021 is coming to an end and at SACC DC we are excited to close out the year with a holiday party in person at House of Sweden on December 16. Tickets have just been released and we only have a limited number so make sure to register!
In fact, there are several events for SACC DC members in the next coming weeks, including a virtual discussion with Pillsbury on Historic Infrastructure Act Opportunities on Dec 2 geared towards non-US companies, as well as a couple of invitations from the Embassy of Sweden. Please check out the details about the different events below.
As always, our talented trainees have curated highlights from some interesting topics as well. Happy reading and we wish you a joyful Thanksgiving!
Happy reading!
Lotta
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Holiday Event at House of Sweden on Dec 16 |
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This time last year in Washington D.C., things were a little different and House of Sweden was pretty empty of people. So we turned to Zoom and hosted a virtual Holiday Party, which was fun in its own special way. As December 2021 and the holidays are approaching, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and we have been working very hard to make our popular Holiday Party possible to arrange in person. Therefore, we are delighted to invite you to House of Sweden on Nov 16 at 5 pm for an evening in a true Holiday spirit - The SACC DC Holiday Cocktail Party.
Come enjoy warm glögg, wine and hors d'oeuvres, bid on silent auction items incl. a Caps jersey signed by Nicklas Bäckström, a night at the RitzCarlton, and more!
First and foremost, we are very grateful to our main sponsor, Volvo Group, for making this event possible, thank you! Secondly, we hope that you all are excited to finally come back to House of Sweden and enjoy an in-person event. Tickets are $75 for members and $85 for non members.
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Webinar Dec 2: Historic Infrastructure Act Opportunities
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On Dec 2, SACC-DC, together with our corporate member Pillsbury Law, are hosting the U.S. Infrastructure Opportunities for Non-US Companies and Buy America Challenges webinar. During the webinar, representatives with experience and insight in the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, from Pillsbury will guide us through what opportunities lies ahead for non-US companies, related to the investments.
A brief introduction to the webinar:
With the U.S. Senate recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which provides nearly $1 trillion in funding for investment in roads, bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, electric grid, water infrastructure, and broadband, many opportunities are on the horizon for US and non-US companies.
The historic funding in many cases requires that products supplied for infrastructure projects contain U.S. origin content. The IIJA tightens existing rules on domestic procurement that are applicable to procurements by the federal government (Buy American) as well as for projects that are funded by the federal government (Buy America), such as transit projects under the Federal Transit Administration. While the domestic content requirements under both systems are broadly similar, these are distinct regimes with their own applicable rules, which requires both contractors and sub-contractors to be familiar with numerous distinct requirements for eligible supplies. For instance, both systems provide for specific domestic content rules for iron and steel products. While a number of federal procurement projects will still be covered by more favorable rules for products produced in Sweden and other preferential countries subject to the Trade Agreements Act, there are challenges when using parts and components from China and India, and other non-preferential countries.
We look forward to discussing potential opportunities for companies in sectors potentially benefitting from this infrastructure funding and how to assess your supply chain now, so companies are poised to seize opportunities in connection with this historic infrastructure spending effort.
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Embassy of Sweden invites SACC DC members to Dec 1st virtual event
The Nordic Model for Competitive Economies:
What’s in it for the U.S.?
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On Wednesday, December 1, 10:00 am (ET), the , in collaboration with the Nordic Embassies, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Nordic Center of UC-Berkeley, host a webinar on the lessons the United States can draw from the Nordic countries for building resiliency into the post-COVID economy.
As U.S. lawmakers and businesses work to rebuild the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge is strengthening the workforce, raising productivity, and building a more resilient system. In a time of disruptive change, with technological and social developments still lurking around the corner, investing in the human capital of American workers will be critical.
The Nordic countries are known for their significant investments in human capital, including workforce development, paid family leave, and the social safety net. What do those countries tell us about fostering a workforce that can skill up and adapt, and how to ensure that workplaces better benefit women, men, and families?
Panelists include:
- Robert Strand, Executive Director of the Nordic Center, Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley
- Ben Gitis, Associate Director of the Economic Policy Project, BPC
- Haldor Byrkjeflot, Professor in Sociology, University of Oslo
- Caitlyn Collins, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Washington University in St. Louis
Click Here to register for the event
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Book Tip for the SACC-DC Community |
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Historian, NY Times bestseller and Pulitzer Price finalist Arthur Herman’s book "The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered The World" is one of Amazon’s top History books of 2021. The Wall Street Journal described it as “a humane and absorbing account…We might all take our own life’s cues from The Viking Heart.”
“The Viking Heart” examines why Vikings and the Viking Age have had a perennial fascination for scholars and the public alike. Dr. Herman brings the latest archeological and DNA evidence to illuminate these bold, valiant, and often misunderstood people and their era, and shows how they were precursors of globalization—and how their modern descendants have shaped America and the modern age.
The book is a lot about Sweden and Swedish-Americans and provides fascinating reading for anyone interested in the historical origins of Swedish-American relations.
Learn more about the book and purchase your copy here.
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Embassy of Sweden and KTH invites SACC DC members to
The Stockholm Model – a Story of Successful Partnerships
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KTH Royal Institute of Technology, together with the City of Stockholm and the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, invites you to an event exploring societal challenges and the value of partnerships.
Save the dates: January 31 - February 1, 2022
Time: (Day 1) noon to 5 p.m.; (Day 2) 9 a.m. to noon
Location: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington
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Upcoming Event: Scandinavian Innovation on April 7
A collaboration with NACCMA, The Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce and the Embassies of Sweden and Norway
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Mark your calendars - SACC-DC, in collaboration with the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC, is hosting the event of the year on April 7, 2022. The event's topic will be on the Scandinavian supply potential of green energy and will be held at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington. The event focuses on the green energy transition in the U.S., how Scandinavian companies play a role in sustainable development, and the synergies Scandinavian companies can create on the U.S. market through innovation. The event will have a focus on green energy, sustainability, and innovation and covers how to create and foster an innovative environment.
As the green transition occurs across the U.S., the shift represents fundamental changes in producing, using, and storing energy. Such significant technological changes lead to increasing demand for clean technology and innovative solutions for renewable energy. At the core of transition, it is essential to secure resilient supply chains of green energy for the economic security of the U.S.
The Scandinavian countries are highly innovative and have significant potential for the future supply of sustainability and green energy. With unique and longstanding cooperation on clean technology and innovation, the Scandinavian region is at the forefront of creating a solid foundation for a sustainable and secure energy supply. Scandinavian incubators have successfully innovated the field of green energy, making the region a leader in sustainable innovation.
The event will be a full-day event where we bring together American and Scandinavian business, media, and political representatives, sharing the latest insights in innovation. It will be a time to shine for innovative and sustainable Scandinavian companies. If you are interested in attending or sponsoring the event, reach out to julia.jager@sacc-dc.org to learn more.
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Highlights from SACC Summit 2021 in Phoenix, AZ |
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This year’s SACC Summit, headlined “What’s next: The Future of Connectivity, Mobility, and the Workforce of Tomorrow”, was held November 2nd through 4th, hosted by SACC Arizona in Phoenix. The first day was dedicated to internal deliberations between the different SACC chapters about how to collectively create value and opportunities under the SACC umbrella and to promote further collaboration. Each chamber shared their own success stories from working during the pandemic.
On the second day, the main event was opened by the Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey followed by the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Karin Olofsdotter, who said some welcoming words to the summit before the first speakers entered the scene. The three highlighted topics for the Summit summarize some of the future challenges and opportunities businesses face on the horizon in the future, especially when considering moving onwards from the pandemic. The ability to stay connected becomes more and more crucial for companies to be able to keep up with digitalization. As 5G continues to spread widely, also the transportation sector is impacted. Thus, connectivity and transportation might start intersecting each other more and more in the future. Digital development also impacts contemporary views on workforce. The pandemic has made way for new modes of working which challenges current ways of conducting business, as a physical workplace no longer seems to be an exclusive prerequisite. In addition, the development of AI continues to being developed in high speed, plausibly turning out to being something the business sector cannot completely disregard in the future.
The topics were discussed and elaborated upon by many notable speakers throughout the Summit. Altogether, it provided an accurate foundation of knowledge and ideas for the future to the participants. Not the least, the event also presented great opportunities for networking during the three days, to all speakers and attendees. Together, the SACC Summit 2021 turned out to be another successful gathering under the prosperous SACC umbrella.
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Researched and written by Jakob Enander, Trainee
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Sweden Opens New Consulate General in San Francisco |
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The Swedish government recently made the decision to open up a new consulate general in San Francisco, California - sometime in the second half of 2022. The Embassy of Sweden states in a press release that they hope the new consulate will function as a center for promoting Swedish ideas and trade, and at the same time meet the increased demand of further coordination from Swedish businesses in the region.
Swedish interests in the state of California are strong and growing. With more than 100 Swedish companies represented in California, approximately 43,000 jobs are directly linked to the presence of Swedish business in the region. The state of California, the fifth biggest economy in the world, also represents world leading levels of innovation and green technology, as well as being home to some of the world’s most premier universities.
Increased Swedish presence in the region will facilitate better co-ordinational and governmental support for Swedish companies and help connect the Swedish business sector to technology of the future. The Swedish governmental export and trade organization Team Sweden anticipate the new consulate will facilitate for organizations like Business Sweden and Vinnova to work with Swedish business promoting activities on the entire US west coast. In addition, Swedish citizens staying or living on the American west coast will after the consulate open, be able to get better access to passport- and general consular service in the region.
Researched and written by Jakob Enander, Trainee
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The COP26 Glasgow Climate Change Conference |
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For two weeks, starting from October 31st, the COP 26 UN climate conference took place in Glasgow, UK. The conference highlighted the increasing urgency in combatting climate change, as revealed in IPCC’s latest climate report. Government leaders from around the world attended the first week of the event to proclaim their perspectives and solutions to climate change to the world.
Among them was President Biden who released the US’s long-term strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. He spoke about the current volatility in energy prices as a call to action and emphasized the necessity of keeping up with investments in green energy to distance the economy from relying on fossil fuel energy sources. The President also repeatedly mentioned the Build Back Better Agenda, calling it “the most significant investment to deal with the climate crisis that any advanced nation has made ever” and also connected it to the creation of new jobs.
At the third day of the conference, the group called the United Nations Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero announced the investment of $130 trillion into efforts to achieve the net zero emission goals by 2050. The group consists of insurers, banks, and asset managers from 45 different countries, collectively controlling 40% of global banking assets. The pledge is said to help entire industries transform and adapt to future demands of greenhouse gas emission neutrality by providing much of the finance needed for such restructuring. Companies receiving financial support for restructuring has also agreed to undergo reviews about their progress every five years, as well as reporting the emissions they finance every year.
As many countries now have presented their ambitions to reach net-zero, the aftermaths of the conference will be able to tell how well these actually transforms into reality.
Researched and written by Jakob Enander, Trainee
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SAVE THE DATE: SACC DC ANNUAL MEETING JAN 20 AT 4 PM AT HOUSE OF SWEDEN |
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Remember to renew your membership for 2022
SACC DC organizes many events throughout the year to give our members access to professional networking. We also tailor trade missions for Swedish companies interested in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. Whether an individual with a keen interest in or connection with Sweden living in D.C. or a company looking to establish new relationships, we can help you reach your next goal.
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