ScandAsia China - June 2016

JUN 2016
New Danish Priest:
From Himmelev to Hong Kong
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

SAVNER DU OGSÅ DANMARK
EN GANG I MELLEM?
Oplev ægte dansk filmhygge med
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Coming Events
JUN 2016
Breakfast Seminar – Eurocham Business
Confidence Survey 2016
Where: KPMG, 23rd Floor, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
When: Tuesday 14 June, 8 - 10 AM
Swedcham and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong
Kong and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
are delighted to invite you to the launch of the 12th edition of
the European Business in China – Business Confidence Survey
2016.
The Business Confidence Survey 2016 brings together
the input of over 500 senior representatives of the European
Chamber’s member companies to provide an annual overview
of their performance and outlook from within the Chinese
market. The European Chamber’s South China Board Chair, Mr.
Alberto Vettoretti, will lead the launch event and present the key
findings of the Business Confidence Survey 2016 in addition to
answering any questions that you may have.
Cost: Members: 380 HKD Non-members: 450 HKD
New Danish Priest:
From Himmelev to Hong Kong
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se
Your FREE
ScandAsia
Magazine
in China
Beijing: Decoding Dress Code -
Professional Image Building Up
Where: Capital Club, 50F Capital Mansion 6 Xin Yuan Nan Road ChaoYang, Beijing
When: Tuesday 21 June, 16:00-17:30
You could never imagine how important the first
impression is in the business world. Many people
wonder if black tie really matters in today’s world?
In the mean time does the business attire have to
be boring? With all these questions, welcome to this
Chamber Joint Chinese Forum with fashion theme,
and get the advice from Caroline Xue, Managing
Director of Marja Kurki China.
Price: 100rmb/person (including snacks and drinks)
Shanghai KONE Test Tower in Kunshan
Where: Venue: KONE Kunshan site, bus will be arranged from Shanghai to Kunshan
When: Wednesday 15 June, 08:30 - 13:30
Please join us for an Uplifting Experience at KONE Kunshan - You can
Even Visit the Test Tower!
KONE, on of the flagships of Finnish industry, has kindly invited 20
lucky members to visit their testing site in Kunshan.
Agenda:
08:30-10:00 Transfer from Shanghai to Kunshan
10:00-10:10 Welcome words and introductions
10:10-10:30 Introduction of KONE’s business in China
10:30-10:50 KONE China supply line and KONE Park
10:50-11:20 Factory tour
11:20-11:40 Visiting test tower
11:40-12:15 Lunch at the factory
12:15-13:30 Return to Shanghai
Price: The event is free of charge. However, please note that there is
space only for 20 members, so please book as early as possible. Please
note that the visit is limited to two persons per member company.
Registration: Please sign up at KONE visit by the end of business on
Friday, 10 of June 2016.
ScandAsia is the only magazine
that covers all the Danish, Finnish,
Norwegian, and Swedish residents
in China.
We also publish a ScandAsia
magazine in Thailand, Singapore and
the rest of South East Asia.
Please sign up for your
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E-mail: news@scandasia.com
Editor-in-Chief :
Gregers A.W. Møller
gregers@scandmedia.com
Managing Editor:
Joakim Persson
Joakim@scandmedia.com
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Daily news and
features here:
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June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 3

News Brief
DCC Hong Kong elects new 2016 board
At the Annual General Meeting for the
Danish Chamber of Commerce Hong
Kong (held on 17 March) some 30 DCC
members and guests attended at Club Lusitano
to hear a speech by Keith Chan, General Manager
at Bang & Olufsen Ltd. Keith Chan told about
Bang & Olufsen’ strategies, current activities and
future goals in Hong Kong and Asia.
The AGM elected the new Board, including
two new members. The new Board consists of
the following DCC Hong Kong members:
Re-elected:
Frank Jensen, Modern Terminals
Thomas Andersen, Hildebrand Travel
Poul Soendergaard, A-tex
Anita Vogel, Skagen
Kenneth Madsen, Pandora
Anders Thygesen, Individual
Lisa Lindenskov, Individual
Camilla Deichmann, Individual
Based on the Norwegian Chamber of
Commerce in Hong Kong’s Annual General
Meeting held on 21 April a new Board was
elected.
The following office bearers were elected or
re-elected for the term of 2016-2017:
Mr. Kjartan Furset – Chairman (Re-elected)
Mr. Trygve Nøkleby (New) – Vice-Chairman
(Elected)
New Members:
Robbert Jan Van Trooijen, Maersk, replacing Silvia
Ding, Maersk
Dan Houmann, Young Professional, Replacing
Glenn Frommer, Individual.
Source: Danish Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong
New board Norwegian Chamber of
Commerce Hong Kong
Mr. Einar Straume – Treasurer (Re-elected)
Mr. Stig Mathisen – Board of Director (Re-elected)
Mr. Joshua Miller – Board of Director (Re-elected)
Mr. Patrick Fong – Board of Director (Re-elected)
Mr. Ove Jöraas – Board of Director (Re-elected)
Mr. Martin Garnes (New) – Auditor (Elected)
FinnCham Hong Kong
appoints Anna
Räisänen new ED
Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
has appointed a new Executive Director,
replacing Emilia Tavakoli, as the chamber
continues celebrating its 30th anniversary during
2016.
FinnCham Hong Kong introduces Anna
Räisänen: “FinnCham congratulates Anna Räisänen
for being selected as the new Executive Director
of FinnCham, starting on 1 August 2016. We had
a rigorous selection process for the Executive
Director position, and several highly qualified
candidates applied both locally and from Finland.
The selection committee conducted interviews
and the final FinnCham board selection decision
was based on the criteria.”
“As a student, Anna started her own business,
Akateemiset Muusikot (Academic Musicians), and
over time it has grown into the largest musicianleasing
company in Finland with 30 employees
and over 1000 musicians. Anna will certainly
bring her entrepreneurial attitude and infectious
energy to FinnCham’s operations. Her goal is to
expand FinnCham’s membership base and to
keep the chamber active and connected. With her
background, Anna is used to creating big things
with very few resources – a skill that will come in
handy at the chamber!
“Anna wants to be a great advocate for
Finnish business and help put them on the map in
Asia. She wishes to make Finland an inspirational
example by highlighting Finnish ecological values,
fashion, lifestyle products, the excellent education
system and technical know-how. She is also
looking forward to arranging some wonderful and
unforgettable events for the Finnish community
and our guests.
“Anna is also personable and easy to connect
with – skills that are mandatory as the Executive
Director. Anna will move to Hong Kong from
Finland at the end of July 2016 to take up the
position.”
Source: Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Hong
Kong
4 ScandAsia.China • June 2016

Chinese State Counsellor Yang Jiechi visits Denmark
News Brief
Over the weekend 16 – 17 April China’s
State Counsellor Yang Jiechi was on
official visit to Denmark.
On Sunday 17 April, he was received in
audience by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II at
Fredensborg Castle.
The same day Prime Minister Lars Løkke
Rasmussen met with the State Counsellor.
This was only 2½ weeks after Prime Minister
Rasmussen met with President Xi Jinping in
Washington DC, and this sequence of high-level
contacts is a testament to the importance of the
bilateral Danish-Chinese relationship.
A meeting between Foreign Minister Kristian
Jensen and the State Counsellor was held on
Saturday 16 April to discuss the partnership
between Denmark and China, human rights,
the regional situation in Asia as well as the
development in Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen emphasized
the strong ties between Denmark and China,
and noted the potential for future collaboration
between the two countries.
“China was one of the first countries I visited
as new Foreign Minister, and State Counsellor
Yang’s visit in Copenhagen is another strong
testimony of the good and close collaboration
between Denmark and China. We must continue
to build and develop this collaboration, which
is why we have taken stock on our strategic
partnership from 2008 today. We have discussed
how to work even closer within the areas of
energy, innovation and food safety, where Danish
companies and authorities have expertise, which
is sought after by Chinese parties,” Minister
Kristian Jensen said.
“Naturally, we discussed the development in
Syria, North Korea and Afghanistan, for instance,
and we have had an honest dialogue on the
development in China, including human rights.
Our meeting confirmed that Denmark and China
have a special relationship and I will work actively
to build on our common interests.”
Source: Embassy of Denmark China
Bangkok, Thailand
June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 5

News Brief
Finns in Beijing AGM elects new Board
Finnish Business Council Beijing’s (FBCB)
Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held
on 20 April; a great evening with some 20
member representatives in attendance.
The meeting was led by Chairman Mrs. Erika
Gronroos, who went over the activities of the
last term. The meeting was delighted to hear that
FBCB activities had increased from the previous
term and especially events together with other
Nordic Chambers had brought more activities to
FBCB members.
Also, the number of members grew
during last term: FBCB currently has a total of
33 Corporate Members. In order to further
increase the member base the AGM approved
a new member category, a Joint Membership for
Large Companies together with Finnish Business
Council Shanghai.
Despite growing activities, financially FBCB
continues on a good path with the term 2015-
2016 ending up with slightly positive result.
By far the most financial funding comes from
membership fees, which is supported by the
large number of hours the Board of Directors
members invest in planning and executing FBCB
activities. While Ms. Nina Ping has been doing
a superb work as the Coordinator of FBCB,
during the AGM it was announced that former
Board Member, Mr. Juha Tuominen, will take the
role of Executive Director, and together with Ms.
Ping work to continue further developing FBCB
activities.
Also, Ms Tarja Kangaskorte, Deputy Head of
Mission from Finnish Embassy in Beijing brought
greetings from the Ambassador and the whole
Embassy for the FBCB members. FBCB members
received thanks for their active participation in
the Team Finland activities as well as a welcome
to approach the Embassy either with faced
challenges or with stories of success.
The new Board for 2016-2017 was selected
by the AGM to include the following five members:
Erika Gronroos (Vaisala), Juha Kolmonen (Nokia),
Yuan Xiaoyu (UPM), Caroline Xue (Marja Kurki)
and Arto Mustikkaniemi (Tekes/Team Finland).
The last two are new members for the FBCB
board. The division of work inside BoD will be
decided when the new BoD convenes for the
first time.
Finally, at the end of the AGM FBCB
rewarded Mr. Seppo Selkala with a Certificate
of Appreciation for his long-standing support for
FBCB and its member companies both as Head
of Finpro Beijing and as former FBCB Board
Member.
Source: Finnish Business Council Beijing
Hong Kong says yes to Swedish premium chicken and turkey
Hong Kong has said yes to imports and
sales of chicken and turkey from Swedish
farmers and companies. Demand for the
Swedish premium chicken is great in Asia and this
industry therefore believes that the export could
have a value of 100 million SEK, to begin with.
“It’s great that Hong Kong now provides
authorization for a trial period for the marketing
and sales of our Swedish chicken and turkey. Our
member companies are in the starting blocks and
will quickly be able to deliver what the Chinese
demand,” says Maria Donis CEO of Svensk Fågel
(Swedish Bird).
The breakthrough came after the industry and
Swedish authorities together have demonstrated
the Swedish production process, and based on a
delegation trip to Hong Kong in the autumn of
2015 with included the rural minister Sven-Erik
Bucht.
“Asia and Hong Kong demand details that
contribute to better demand for the whole
chicken. In China chicken feet is considered a
delicacy and used in anything from soups to deep
frying, in order to promote better health and
rejuvenate the skin. For us at Svensk Fågel this will
be an important part of our sustainability efforts
as we can utilize a larger part of the chicken. In
addition, the Swedish industry offers a high quality
product that is salmonella free and with good
animal health.”
A unique animal health program and a very
low antibiotic consumption means that Swedish
chicken feet and turkey meat is seen as a premium
product in Hong Kong. The inspection program by
Svensk Fågel for foot health have meant that the
industry received an animal welfare indicator but
also an opportunity to sell and export a premium
product.
“The interest in the Swedish model with a
focus on animal health and disease control is great.
We have had visits from Chinese delegations who
want to learn more about how Sweden is able
to keep antibiotics consumption so low in animal
production, while having a relatively good position
illness among farm animals.”
Sales of chicken from the Swedish Poultry
(Svensk Fågel) members increased by 13 percent
in 2014 and all indications are that this increase
will continue in 2015. As production increases in
Sweden the need to export will also go up. The
rest of China may be next.
The four abattoirs authorized to export to
try are:
Kronfågel AB, Guldfågeln AB, Tor ridge Bird
AB, Ingelsta Turkey AB
Svensk Fågel is the trade organization for
Swedish chicken and turkey. It represents the entire
chain; from breeding companies, hatcheries and
feed producers to farmers and slaughterhouses.
Member companies are: Kronfågel, Guldfågeln,
Lagersbergs Chicken, Chicken Knäreds, Bjäre Bird
and Ingelsta Turkey. All are working toward the
same goal - to develop the world’s best chicken
and turkey.
6 ScandAsia.China • June 2016

Swedcham Hong Kong AGM and Annual Awards
News Brief
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in
Hong Kong, Swedcham, has announced
its new Board of Directors, elected at
the Annual General Meeting on 29 April, at
Club Lusitano. Swedcham also welcomed its
newest Director Anders Bergkvist, SVP Head
of Controlling China Market Unit at Stora Enso
Hong Kong!
The new Board consists in: Per Ågren, Pontus
Karlsson, Patrik Lindvall, Katarina Ivarsson, Ulf
Ohrling (Chairman), Paul Bergström, Anders
Bergkvist (Absent: Karine Hirn, Jimmy Bjennmyr).
SverigeShoppen was appointed winner of the
2016 Swedcham Annual Award.
“There were many interesting candidates for
the award but with the motivation submitted
with the nomination of SverigeShoppen it
became clear that they were the winner,” stated
Swedcham Hong Kong.
From the motivation ScandAsia quotes:
“SverigeShoppen is the Hong Kong Swedes’ own
fairy godmother. They work in their own little
way to both support Sweden and Swedes by
bringing all the things we like the most to Hong
Kong, but also devote much time and effort to
show everybody else out here what Sweden, our
culture and traditions are about by for instance
participating in different fairs and other events.
“Given their size, SverigeShoppen, suffices,
with almost magical powers to put Sweden on
the map in an efficient and effective way. Even
if their efforts seem small to the naked eye
they are important as small streams make a
great river. SverigShoppen is one of these small
streams. Their protégé is Sweden, a place dear
to many of us, and SverigeShoppen makes sure
that others too understand what Sweden has to
bring by spreading fairy dust here and there. To
further foster initiatives like these, to make people
understand that all ways to support Sweden are
good ways, even the small ones, SverigeShoppen
deserves to be the winner of this year’s Annual
Award.”
PostNord Denmark enters new Alibaba collaboration
A
new collaboration, announced in January
2016, between PostNord Denmark and
Alibaba Group will make it easier and
cheaper for Danish and Nordic e-retailers to
reach affluent Chinese consumers. In turn, parcel
volumes from the Nordic region to China will
increase.
The agreement gives PostNord the right
to establish a Nordic platform on the shopping
portal Tmall Global.
“China has about 350 million consumers who
shop online, and Alibaba Group is the biggest
e-commerce player. So we are thrilled about
this collaboration, which makes it possible for us
to help Danish and Nordic businesses sell their
products in China, while we handle shipping,” says
PostNord’s Head of business area eCommerce &
Logistics, Peter Kjær Jensen.
Alibaba Group sees the collaboration as a
central partnership that gives Chinese consumers
access to high-quality products.
“Danish and Nordic brands will now be
exposed to the more than one hundred million
Chinese consumers who visit our platform in
search of unique, international products. We
see the collaboration with PostNord as a
central partnership in Europe that gives Chinese
consumers access to high-quality products,” says
Alibaba Group’s country manager for the UK/
Ireland and the Nordic region, Amee Chande.
The Nordic platform is particularly suited to
companies who are not yet established in China
or that want to broaden their e-commerce target
group to include Chinese consumers as well.
PostNord Denmark has been working for
some time with China Post, whose portal ule.
com served as a gateway for numerous Danish
e-retailers who wanted to enter the Chinese
market.
June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 7

News Brief
Chinese firm bids on Finnish Okmetic
Finland’s Okmetic, a maker of silicon wafers
used in semiconductors and analog circuits,
announced on 1 April that it has received
a takeover offer from China’s National Silicon
Industry Group (NSIG).
“Okmetic has undergone a successful
transformation over the last few years and has
been able to deliver outstanding total shareholder
returns during times of high price pressure in
the industry. Having carefully assessed the terms
and conditions of the Tender Offer, the Board
of Directors has concluded that entering into
the Combination Agreement is in the interest of
the shareholders and holders of option rights of
Okmetic,” said Jan Lång, Chairman of the Board
of Okmetic.
Lång furthermore said they were confident
that NSIG’s position in the semiconductor industry
would provide Okmetic with strengthened
resources for growth and, thus, support the
Finnish firm’s role as one of the key players within
the silicon wafer industry.
“Okmetic has exceptional knowhow and
high-class technical expertise, which will continue
to carry its future development.”
NSIG is an industry holding company in
China focusing on investment and development
of semiconductor equipment and materials.
NSIG is owned by five shareholders: National
Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund
Co., Ltd., Shanghai Guosheng (Group) Limited,
Shanghai SummitView Integrated Circuit Equity
Investment Partnership, Shanghai SIMIC Co., Ltd.
and Shanghai Jiading Industrial Development
Zone (Group) Co., Ltd.
NSIG’s target is to establish a major
industrial player in the global semiconductor
sector (especially silicon and its ecosystems)
through both the PRC domestic investments and
outbound mergers and acquisitions.
Chinese factories use over 60 per cent of
the world’s chips annually, and in 2013 imported
more chips by value than crude oil. To promote
domestic development, China’s government has
tasked chip firms with raising revenue by more
than 20 per cent annually and building “a group
of world-class companies” by 2030.
Established in 1985, Okmetic is one of the
leading specialty silicon wafers producers and
suppliers globally with a production plant in
Vantaa, Finland, and contract manufacturers in
China and Japan.
Okmetic specializes in product development,
production and trade of materials in the
electronics industry both in Finland and abroad
as well as consulting, service and design activities
relating to the above operations and materials
used in the field of business.
It is NSIG’s intention to strongly support
Okmetic’s growth and the future of the Vantaa
plant. NSIG also aims to retain the existing
management team and employees of Okmetic
on their current employment terms in order to
ensure that the Finnish producer will continue on
its current development path also post-Tender
Offer.
NSIG believes that the acquisition will further
strengthen Okmetic’s worldwide distribution
platform, especially in the rapidly growing
Chinese semiconductor market. Okmetic’s
unique technological capabilities combined with
NSIG’s local market knowledge and access to
funding will significantly accelerate Okmetic’s
development. In addition, NSIG believes that the
proven expertise and experience of the Finnish
company’s management and its excellent financial
performance in a tough industry will continue to
be major growth drivers and success factors of
the company.
Silvent sees great demand in China
Swedish Silvent, one of the world’s leading
manufacturer of products for compressed
air, is continuing its expansion in China,
now doubling the number of employees after
just three months in the country. The interest
for a better working environment in the major
production facilities in China and Asia is large, and
to meet the demand Silvent increases workforce
by four people within sales side, to a total of eight
based in China.
“We have for several years been active in the
Asian market through dealers but quickly saw that
it required an own organization in place in order
to be able to lift properly,” says Anders Erlandsson,
CEO of Silvent.
In January 2016 Silvent opened an office and
can already say that the interest in the company’s
knowledge of the work environment and
energy optimization is huge. Many multinational
companies have their production in China and
the work environment is a red-hot issue, not
least from company owners in the United States
and Europe.¨
Within three years Silvent expects to once
again have at least doubled the number of
employees and Anders Erlandsson sees that
China will account for at least 30 percent of sales
by 2020. By then, the US, European and Chinese
8 ScandAsia.China • June 2016
markets will be approximately equal in size for
Silvent.
“The market in China is huge. Most US and
European companies have substantial parts of
their production in China and with the will to
do the right thing. If there is anything one can do
for the work environment, then one does it. Bad
publicity around the production is a danger that
most companies are aware of and many work
hard to ensure that all production is done in a way
that is satisfactory based on US and European
standards. Therefore, we see Asia, and especially
China, as a market that will grow very quickly for
us, says Anders Erlandsson.
Silvent places great emphasis on maintaining
and developing the corporate culture that have
been built up over many years. Therefore, the
company chooses to let as many people as
possible from the Swedish office to go to China,
partly to spread the Swedish work methods, and
partly to create a greater understanding between
colleagues.
“It’s amazing to see how we all developed
thanks to this exchange. It’s an exciting journey
for us to come to China and see how everything
works there and it is useful for our employees in
China to see how we work at Silvent. We view
the Chinese we now have employed as potential
managers of the future as we continue to expand
in China and Asia,” says Anders Erlandsson.
Silvent assists manufacturing companies with
energy optimization and improving the working
environment. Silvent is headquartered in Borås,
where all research and development takes place.
The company has unique expertise in the field of
compressed air dynamics. Silvent products and
customized solutions for compressed air blowing
is used by leading manufacturers and brands
worldwide. Today Silvent is represented in nearly
50 countries and had sales in 2015 of about 125
million SEK.

Finnish Minister of Agriculture on China visit
News Brief
Minister of Agriculture and the Environment
Kimmo Tiilikainen visited China on
20 – 25 March 2016, accompanied
by a business delegation of 60 persons, mainly
representing the forest, food and cleantech
sectors. The main purpose of the visit was to
promote the Finnish-Chinese trade relations and
a visit to the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
was also on the agenda.
China’s rapid urbanization has brought with it
enormous environmental challenges. The Chinese
do take Tiilikainen Minister of the Environment
issues seriously, which is reflected, inter alia, the
recent, in the 2020 five-year plan.
Over the decades, China has been able to
double the forest field battle against erosion.
Now, recognizing the importance of forests for
the mitigation of climate change.
China offers Finnish companies a huge amount
of business opportunities in the forestry sector,
food exports, as well as a provider of energy
efficiency and emissions-reducing solutions. The
hard work is paying off; for example, the export
of sawn timber here has doubled over the last
couple of years, reminiscent of Agriculture and
Minister of the Environment Kimmo Tiilikainen
export promotion trip to Beijing.
Multiple official meetings and business
seminars took place, including meeting the Chinese
Minister of Forestry, Minister of Water Resources,
Minister of Environmental Protection, Minister
of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and
Vice-Minister of the General Administration of
Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
The other official meetings and business
events, included ‘Sino-Finland Wood Summit’
(a Finnish-Chinese meeting on forest affairs),
‘Finland-China District Heating and Waste to
Energy Technical Seminar’, and a ‘Food from
Finland’ reception.
Topics included the development of
agricultural and food trade between Finland
and China, cooperation in forest and water
resources affairs, and opportunities for Finnish
cleantech exports arising from climate change
and urbanization.
“We have a long history of very good and
productive cooperation with China. I believe
that this visit will further consolidate our bilateral
relations as we look into the future with an
open mind and search for new partnerships,”
commented Minister Tiilikainen ahead of the
China visit aimed at further reinforcing the good
cooperative relations between Finland and China.
“During the meetings with Chinese ministers
confirmed that China wants to increase
cooperation between our two countries, for
example in sustainable forestry,“ said Minister
Tiilikainen.
In addition to Finnish forests known as a
clean environment, China is struggling with the
sufficiency of clean water, so the water offers
good opportunities for cooperation in Finland.
“Our reputation as an environmental expert
should now take advantage of even more,
because the competition is fierce, inter alia, with
other European countries.”
Finnish foods arouse interest in Beijing. The
image of pure, fresh Nordic and safe food is an
asset. This was revealed at the Finnish Embassy
in Food from Finland event, where Finnish
companies offered tastings to potential buyers.
“Crucial to an individual company, it is the
discovery of a reliable partner in China. I believe
that with the food companies have been received
during the trip paved the way for a future shops,”
Minister Tiilikainen continued.
A concrete step forward in the Finnish food
exports to China is to have increased cooperation
with authorities in the field, moving from the
electronic information system. This will greatly
facilitate communication on issues such as export
permits.
“I hope that the remaining details for the
exports of Finnish meat and fish resolved soon.
In these negotiations, we were able to move
forward, but a breakthrough is still awaited,”
Minister Tiilikainen says.
”We have now opened the doors together.
However, the success of the visit is measured
in terms of export enterprises,” the Minister
Tiilikainen summed up the results of the trip.
Secretary for the Environment, Mr. K.S. Wong,
also welcomed his Finnish colleague, Minister
of Agriculture and the Environment, Mr. Kimmo
Tiilikainen to Hong Kong on March 24.
The visit by the Minister of Agriculture and
the Environment, Mr. Kimmo Tiilikainen, gave
a good opportunity to mingle with specialists
of sustainable technology as well as clean and
delicious food.
Sources: Embassy of Finland, Beijing and Consulate
General of Finland in Hong Kong and Macao
June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 9

New Danish Priest:
From Himmelev to Hong Kong
By Frederik Sonne
10 ScandAsia.China • June 2016
Two near-death experiences in
four weeks pushed him into the
world of theology. Only 34-years
old he’s now the new priest at
Hong Kong’s Danish Seamen’s
Church. Meet Anders Skaaning Andersen
the young priest that got the job of his
dreams.
T-shirt, jeans, Nike-sneakers, a sports cap and
a fashionable nordic beard. Anders is nothing like
the picture your biased brain paints when you’re
going to meet the new Danish priest in Hong
Kong for an interview.
Anders leisurely displays his vicarage on
the 13th floor of the Mariners Club building
overlooking the Victorian Harbour and the Hong
Kong Island where mountains and skyscrapers
poke the grey skies.
A new Dane has just arrived in Hong Kong
and he contacted Anders for some guidance. As
they say goodbye Anders keeps the backdoor
open - unconsciously it seems.
“Is water okay with you? I actually don’t have
anything else to offer. I would love to offer you a
beer, but I had some exchange students visiting
the other day”, he says.
“Water is fine”, I say, as I glimpse a cold
champagne in the fridge but let it slide.
Military, death and theology
How does a young man like Anders end up as the
Danish priest in Hong Kong? And why? That’s the
immediate curiosity I need to get appeased. We’ll
have to turn 14 years back for that.
“I was twenty and a cadet in the military. We
had an exercise and I fell in a dunghill. It was winter
and I was freezing and undercooled. The morning
after I fainted, fell to the ground and woke up as
my comrades was trying to revive me. Then I was
hospitalized”.
The accident frightened him. But he eventually
got back in shape, dressed in his uniform, ready for
the challenges to come.
“Only four weeks went by and we were out
on another exercise when a tree toppled over
my bivouac. There might have been some higher
powers that didn’t want me to be a soldier”,
Anders recalls. The dramatic events changed his
life.
“The accidents of course got my thoughts
running and in the age of twenty a lot happens
in your head. I had a lot of reflections about

existence and the meaning of it all and in my
opinion the Church offered the best answers to
this. Eventually I ended up abandoning the military
and my idea of a glorious career as an officer and
I started studying theology instead”, he explains.
A dream come through
Since faith brought him to the study of theology,
he’s been living in Cairo working with interreligious
dialogue, been a verger in the Danish
Seamen’s Church in Algeciras in Spain, a
supervisor in a research institute, more recently
priest in Himmelev in Denmark for 2 years and
volunteering bartender at the local Gimle Bar
and Venue in Roskilde, and since the beginning of
this year the new priest at Hong Kong’s Danish
Seamen’s Church - a position he’s been dreaming
about for years.
“I always knew that I wanted to live and work
abroad for a longer time. Since I’ve learned about
the Seaman’s Church I’ve hoped for this position
in Hong Kong or New York. I’ve always had this
fascination for Asian metropolitan cities, so it has
always been a dream that I kept in the back of
my head.”
“So I promised myself that if the
opportunity to go to Hong Kong ever came, I
would pursue it”.
And luckily for Anders the position opened
last year. He applied and got it.
The eagerness to explore and live and
working abroad was fostered in his childhood,
he tells. As a child in the ages of 9 to 11 he lived
in Greenland with his parents, and those years
formed an openness and curiosity to explore and
experiences as much of the world as possible.
Another reason behind the priesthood in
Hong Kong was appealing to Anders, was the
complicated organization behind a Seaman’s
Church, which he experienced in his eight
months in Spain: joggling with the traditional and
theological Church ventures like sermons, the
heavier work in raising funds for the Church’s
sustainable operatino and the Church being the
center of the social life all appealed to Anders.
Baptism of fire
When he landed as the descendant the 1 January
2016, he overtook the legacy of two predecessors
that held the position in a total of 30 years - in
respectively 17 and 13 years. Anders is only the
third priest in Hong Kong’s Seaman’s Church’s
history.
He entered the short line of priests with a
baptism of fire, he tells, planning the annual and
very traditional New Year’s Party.
“There are a lot of expectations to such an
event. There is a way that it’s used to be done,
people expect that to follow. So that was a great
test for me and interesting beginning of it all”,
he says.
Now he’s more settled and he enjoys taking
the responsibility for Danes to meet in Hong
Kong, contacting the Commerce, the Consulate,
the Seafarers and so on.
The next big event to come, when ScandAsia
visited, was the Pentecost Bazaar, which was very
apparent, as the vicarage was filled with stacked
cardboard boxes and toys for the Bazaar.
Leaving Himmelev for Hong Kong
When Anders decided to leave Denmark for
Hong Kong, he left two years as a priest in
Himmelev in Roskilde. Two good years, he says.
“I’m very happy about my time in Himmelev.
I was busy and had around 75 confirmands and
3 funerals a week, so there was a lot of work to
do. I feel like I’ve learned the fundamental craft
during those years.”
However: “The provincial life didn’t work for
me. I’ve always been around many people and
always liked to be social, so I felt there was a
confusion in my identity”.
Hong Kong, as a city, is much more well-suited
for Anders, and he hasn’t had any challenges in
adapting to the vivid metropolitan. Life was also
“pretty hectic life in Cairo”, as he says.
“I appreciate the diversity in Hong Kong.
People in Denmark often say that Denmark is
turning multicultural, but it isn’t really. Denmark’s
very monocultural, especially compared to Hong
Kong. When you experience diversity, you get an
experience for how people are different and this
makes you acknowledge that the world really isn’t
that simple”.
Keeping theology in focus
Churches abroad often have the position as the
single or one of the few social institutions for
expats longing for home. This means that people
doesn’t necessarily visit the church for religious
reasons. The church’s role can be downgraded to
simply being a social club. Anders is aware, that
there’s a risk of that.
“I’m not one to judge over how the church
has been run before. But I’ll do a big effort to
keep the theological base and the ecclesiastical in
focus”, he says and mentions that he has already
insisted on writing “something with relevance to
christianity” in the church magazine, renamed the
annual Spring Bazaar to the Pentecost Bazaar and
reintegrated supper in the service.
He is not blind about the social responsibility
that the Seamen’s Church, like any other church,
bears. As he says: “Seen in an ecclesiastical light,
the lunch after the service is as important as the
service itself”.
Actually it seems like social engagement is
more than normally important for Anders. As
mentioned he volunteered as a bartender in
a local bar in Roskilde and he volunteered for
Roskilde Festival for many years.
In Hong Kong his urge to be social made him
invite 20 Danish exchange students for beers in
the vicarage and moreover made him visit the
annual Scandinavian football cup in the SEAregion,
that took place in Hong Kong this year.
“I think Danish churches can learn a lot from
engaging more in the local community on the
local communities terms”, he says.
Positively surprised
Focusing more on religion is just a minor addition,
he says; he’s not here to revamp anything. All in
all he is positively surprised of the church and the
congregation.
“I’m really positive in many aspects. I mean
June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 11

this church is spoiled. The congregation is so
enterprising, there’s a strong fellowship. The
church only exists because of its congregation,
so it’s confirming with such an supportive
congregation”, Anders tells and emphasizes how
the financial support for the church also took him
by surprise.
“The financial support is overwhelming. I
was on guard, when I found out that private and
company funding was a big part of the church’s
economy. It’s important to be aware of one’s
integrity, because when people throw money in
something, they are likely to have an interest in
what they are used for, but there has been none
of that”, he says.
Working as a counterpoint
That the Seaman’s Church in Hong Kong is
financially fine might just be a secondary effect
of being positioned in one of the world’s leading
international financial centres. Part of this is also
navigating in a city and an extreme performative
society where everything is about money. A society
that Anders wishes to be a counterpoint to.
“Hong Kong is an extremely fast-paced
society. I figure it’s important to have a space
where you don’t have to perform or make results,
a space where you can just be yourself and
relax, a space where everyone is equal. I hope
the Seaman’s Church offers a space where you
feel comfortable to come dressed in shorts and
eating a hot dog.”
Anders laughs as he mentions the United
Kingdom’s church in Hong Kong that arrange
Charity Balls, where seats can be bought for
enormous sums, as everything the Danish church
shouldn’t be: “Danes are more grounded I guess”.
Acting as a valuational counterpoint to Hong
Kong society is part of Anders’ personal set of
values.
“Money is an elusive value. When I have
talked to old couples about what gave their lives
value, not a single one has mentioned money”, he
says, before he goes into an analysis of modern
society.
“This idea about making it all on you own
and being the world’s greatest that prevails, is not
healthy. We need each other. And the absurd idea
that happiness is equal to status, consumerism
and money is really unsubstantial”, he says.
“I like to think of the church as a sanctuary
to those ideas and the brutal life in Hong Kong”.
Anders’ contract runs for the next four
years and if he is to follow in the steps of his
predecessors, he will likely be there for at least
ten years.
However, he responds: “Until now in this
position I haven’t been able to predict my future
for more than one year ahead”.
Enjoy timeless Danish films
all over the globe
Dirch Passer, Olsen Banden, Lille-Per
and many more icons from the
chest of Danish film history are
now on deck for online streaming
at every corner of the world.
It’s near to half a century ago since Egon came
up with his first genius plan and it’s been more
than 80 years since Liva Weel sang “Gå med i
lunden”. As times fly Nordisk Film has decided to
catch and collect Danish film classics throughout
time and connect them to the newly launched
streaming service “Dansk Filmskat”.
“Dansk Filmskat” has experienced an
enormous interest - also from Danes resided
abroad. That’s why Nordisk Film has made the
popular Danish films available to watch and enjoy
from all over the globe.
Beyond generations and borders
“Dansk Filmskat” compiles Danish films from
1931 and forth. The variety of films changes
every week, so there’s constantly new cozy movie
moments for you to enjoy.
“The classic Danish films are inherited by
each generation and loved beyond age groups
because they have such a special place in many
Danes hearts. Now “Dansk Filmskat” goes beyond
borders as well, so anyone can benefit from the
cozyness of Danish film regardless of where you
live”, says Ole Martini, Director at Consumer
Channels, Nordisk Film.
A glimpse of Danish lives
The streaming service grants not only Danish
“hygge”, nostalgia and heartwarming humour
for the entire family, but also a sheer insight to
Denmark and Danish lives in the past generations.
“There’s some unmistakably Danish about
these films, which puts them in a central position
in our shared cultural history. Digging into these
pieces of history gives a unique glimpse of the
progress in Danish society, language, fashion,
gender roles, technology and so on”, explains
Ole Martini.
“Dansk Filmskat” is available on TV, tablet and
laptop. Members of “Dansk Filmskat” moreover
gets access to amusing Danish commercials from
the 50’s and 60’s and extraordinary interviews
with figures as Ghita Nørby, Morten Grunwald,
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre and a range of other icons
from the history of Danish cinema giving their
insights on the stories behind the films.
12 ScandAsia.China • June 2016

Saxo Bank bolsters
Greater China online
trading presence
Following on Sazo Bank’s
China launch in the
Shanghai Free-Trade
Zone back in September
2015 the Danish bank in
April 2016 announced a tri-party
agreement between Saxo Bank,
Wallstreet CN and LeanWork. This
step will significantly bolster Saxo
Bank’s presence in Greater China.
The users of Wallstreet CN,
one of the most popular financial
content providers in Greater China,
will be able to access global capital
markets from WEEX, an online
trading service platform created by
Wallstreet CN, with trading system
developed by LeanWork and Open
API powered by Saxo Bank.
“This unique partnership
underlines the strength of Saxo’s
Open API which with limitless
customization options will increase
the power of trading technology
now and in the future. This truly
is a win-win for all parties and at
Saxo Bank we are excited to be
working with two exceptionally
successful start-ups which empower
Chinese-speaking investors,” said
Kim Fournais, co-founder and CEO
of Saxo Bank.
Saxo Bank is one of the first
financial institutions to give access
to its trading infrastructure through
the bank’s REST-based API called
Open API. The move, which covers
Saxo’s multi-asset trading and back
office infrastructure, will allow
its partners, clients and external
developers to access over 20 years
of trading infrastructure innovation
and enable them to customise their
trading experience and create new
revenue streams.
Wallstreet CN was founded
by Wu Xiaopeng in 2013 and
conceived in the form of a personal
blog when he was stationed overseas
in New York. Upon his return to
China in May 2013, the company
was registered in Shanghai and
received venture capital investment
from China Ping An and Hai Tong
Securities’ investment funds, along
with several other well-known
institutions in China.
During the past three years,
Wallstreet CN has accumulated
15 million monthly unique visitors
from scratch. Today it is the leading
financial news source providing the
most influential market news and
economic data to Chinese-speaking
investors.
“I am honoured to partner with
Saxo Bank and LeanWork. Saxo
Bank is a leader in online trading
technology. The global reach of
Saxo Bank and the local touch
of LeanWork & Wallstreet CN
combined will make WEEX, the
trading platform, a powerful value
proposition for Chinese speaking
investors,” said Wu Xiaopeng,
founder and CEO, Wallstreet CN.
LeanWork is a technology
start-up based in Hong Kong, which
originally started with the creation
of a multiple broker solution and has
overtime gained significant market
share amongst the Chinese-speaking
broker community. Today LeanWork
has a sizable IT development team
with over 30 IT developers in its
offices across Greater China.
“No team is better than Saxo
Bank, Wallstreet CN and LeanWork
combined. As a leading financial
institution in online trading, Saxo
Bank provides access to over 30,000
financial instruments. LeanWork’s
local understanding and strength
in IT development makes the best
local user experience a reality” said
Darren Qian, CEO and founder of
LeanWork.
The partnership was sealed
at an official ceremony at Danish
Consulate in Shanghai on April 13th,
2016 with attendance of Nicolai
Prytz, Danish Consul General of
Shanghai.
The Saxo Bank Group (Saxo)
is an online multi-asset trading
and investment specialist, offering
a complete set of trading and
investment technologies, tools
and strategies. A fully licensed and
regulated bank, Saxo enables private
and institutional clients to easily
trade multiple assets from a single
margin account on multiple devices
seamlessly.
June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 13

Claus
Boman
Danish designer
bears the key to China
By Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne
You would just never get
the chance to design and
build a shopping mall
in Denmark in a million
years, unless you have a
highly famous brand.
14 ScandAsia.China • June 2016
Danish designer Claus Boman
has made a trademark out of
navigating between the conflicting
cultures of Scandinavian high-end
design and the Chinese markets
demands for efficiency and profit. He calls himself
a diplomatic designer building the creative bridge
between West and the East. With his one-man
company, bomancreatives, he has managed to
make it in China.
“A designer in Denmark might have two
years to evolve a chair, go through 18 prototypes
before it’s done. In China you’ll get two weeks to
design a restaurant and that’s including the chairs”,
Claus Boman tells, pointing out differences in the
two design cultures, in which his is rooted.
He came to Thailand in 2002 to have a
break for his interior and commercial design firm
in Denmark, Boman Design, that was running
smoothly since 1992. Now he’s living through his
13th year as an expat in Thailand.
“I came with a blonde and ended up with a
brunette”, as he likes to say.
In 2004, while employed at Concept i Design,
he was introduced to the Chinese market for
the first time. Since going solo in 2008 he has
clinged on to the Chinese market, which forms
the majority of his clients.
“The chair you could design in Denmark is
perfect, it’s pure quality, it’s art. In the East and
China they don’t need that kind of quality. They
want a chair to look new and they want it to
be affordable to change them within a couple
of years. A Chinese company might have 200
employees one day and in a couple of years that
could have grown to 2500. Then there’s no need
buying Werner-chairs 20.000 DKK a piece”, he
explains.
In spite of his talk about chairs, as a commercial
interior designer, Claus mostly manages design
tasks of a more sizable proportion on the China
market. Currently he has three kids clubs, a mall
renovation, a new mall and a wedding platform on
the drawing table for China. This is another reason
why he personally enjoys working in the East.
“You would just never get the chance to
design and build a shopping mall in Denmark in
a million years, unless you have a highly famous
brand”.
Claus’s pen has been part of the drawing and
designing of ten malls, while living in Asia.
“I would never get near that kind of tasks in
Denmark. Only the triple-A design offices do”,
he tells.
Money counts - make a profit
The different demands to quality doesn’t signify
that the Chinese “just don’t care”. According to

I always keep in touch with
persons in my network, even
though some of them might
not have had any relevant
projects for years.
Claus it’s a matter of priorities. Chinese are, not
surprisingly, very fixated on profit and that means
that the designer should be as well.
“It’s not adequate to draw something
beautiful, someones got to make some money”.
“Commercial interior is not about designing
aesthetically correct only. You have to create a
profit for the client. When designing a shopping
mall for example, if you can succeed in expanding
the tenant space with 5 percent without
compromising the halls and the public areas, then
it means 5 percent more rental income for the
owner.”
Another example: “If you reduce the
constructing time for a retail store in Hong Kong
just by a week, that might mean some million
bahts are saved, because the rent is so extreme in
Hong Kong. Often I see my design fee recouped
for the client before the task is completed. This
only happens when you bear the client’s budget
in mind.”
He states that such results might eventually
make the client come back for more and of
course that’s good for his budget.
But how do you reduce constructing time
without compromising?
“Well good design is not necessarily expensive
or design done over a longer time. Good design
just have to be thought through. Here’s an
example: an insurance company demanded one
of my clients to change his panes from toughened
to laminated glass. This meant he had to close his
retail two weeks or so. Then I came up with the
idea to put film on the glass and that saved him
two weeks constructing and production costs.”
Working a one-man company
Cost efficiency is also very clear when you take a
closer look at bomancreatives. Claus’ company, as
its only employee. That doesn’t imply he throws
together a shopping mall alone. The company is
driven as a consultant basis, which means he uses
different teams depending on the task.
“If I need some extra power, then I’ll hire
consultants myself on the same principles as I’m
hired on. I usually work with the same teams from
Shenzhen and Shanghai in China or Hyderabad in
India. So far this way has been sufficient enough to
make shopping malls on 100.000 sq.m. or a luxury
watch retailer on 350 kvm. Actually the watch
retailer took the longest.”
This way of working also means that his
company very rarely will be glowing in neon
whenever he does a project. Claus often works
on “white label”, which means some studios uses
him under their name. So instead of selling his
design under the own brand it might be as MRD
Group or Taipan depending on the collaborators.
“It’s funny when I manage some big teams
based on my sketches that I very likely did on the
corner of an old newspaper while having a noodle
soup - it sounds crazy, but that’s actually how
it is sometimes. If the project is big the studios
provides a team of 50 people with retail experts,
engineers and so on. Usually that’s no need for
that though.”
Navigating with the Chinese
As for Claus he got in touch with the market
through his employer, but since then he has done
his best to hold on to former collaborators and
nurse relationships with the clients he met. Many
of the tasks he’s assigned to today are linked with
his former tasks in that way. But working your
network may not be that simple?
“A good idea is learning to understand the
different local traditions. When I travel I’ll always
bring small but relevant presents”, Claus suggests
and adds: “For instance, I’m traveling to Shanghai
to present a Kids Club concept for a client and
the theme is outer space. So I had eight t-shirt
and hats printed with funny monsters on them
as a surprise for the clients, when presenting the
projects. It’s not about getting the most expensive
gifts, but it’s about getting the right ones.”
So one might put down originality, and one
might as well add perseverance.
“I always keep in touch with persons in my
network, even though some of them might not
have had any relevant projects for years.”
Follow your guts
Let’s end on with an anecdote: When Claus
Boman was attending the Danish Design school
back in the eighties, they would get the assignment
to “design an armchair”. Two months later there
would be 15 different models of armchairs in the
room. During his years at Les Ateliers in Paris
they would get another assignment to “design
an object on which you can rest the body”. Two
months later there might be one armchair, eight
sculptures, four failures and two impressively
innovative genius furniture.
“That’s how I like to work still - I like to work
unbiased, from the bottom. You have to take
some backlashes now and then, but it also makes
it possible to come up with completely new and
innovative things. In China they are very bound to
their traditions, but as a designer you sometimes
has to follow your guts and I’m not afraid of that,”
ends Claus.
June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 15

Jan B. Djerf presides over
EuroCham Singapore
Undoubtedly Swedish banking executive Mr Jan B. Djerf is one of our most
well known Scandinavians in Singapore.
In Southeast Asia’s undisputed business
hub since 2004 Mr Djerf is not only Senior
Vice President and General Manager
of Handelsbanken Singapore Branch and
Head of South Asia and Pacific; he is also
the President of Eurocham, European Chamber
of Commerce (Singapore), during two years
spanning from 2015 – 2017.
Prior to this, Mr. Djerf took on the role as Vice-
President for 3 years. Mr. Djerf also represents the
Swedish Business Association in Singapore on the
EuroCham Board and has been an active Board
member since 2005.
ScandAsia finds out more about these, his
prestigious additional roles on a European level.
But first, a résumé of his career up to now: In
his professional career, Mr. Djerf’s major step
towards senior level management came with
his appointment as the Head of the Treasury
Department at Ericsson in Stockholm, Sweden.
This sparked his globetrotting career phase,
leading him to be headhunted by Alfinad SA in
Brussels, Belgium, the Treasury Center of Alfa
Laval. Mr. Djerf soon saw his career taking him
to Lausanne, Switzerland as Director Group
Treasury at Tetra Laval. 1994 saw Mr. Djerf’s
entry into one of Scandinavia’s largest banks,
Handelsbanken. In 1998, Mr. Djerf was appointed
Head of Foreign Exchange Money Markets and
Emerging Markets, Europe. This took him to
London and then to Stockholm. After that he
arrived to Singapore and Handelsbanken.
Mr. Jan B. Djerf represents the Swedish Business
Association in Singapore on the EuroCham Board
and has been an active Board member since 2005,
including taking on the role of Vice President since
3 years. In March 2015, Mr. Djerf was unanimously
voted to the Presidency of EuroCham for a twoyear
term.
EuroCham’s Board of Governors comprises
of the Office Bearers, which includes the President,
a Patron, Ordinary Corporate Board Members, as
well as 14 Representatives from the European
National Business Groups (NBGs). EuroCham
works very closely with the EU Delegation to
Singapore for its events and activities. H.E. Dr.
Michael Pulch, Ambassador of the EU Delegation
to Singapore sits on the Board as Patron.
16 ScandAsia.China • June 2016

Under Mr Djerf’s leadership, EuroCham has
emerged as an instrumental body in the business
community, making concrete efforts in enhancing
and encouraging a vibrant trade relationship
between Singapore and the EU. Locally, EuroCham
has had several engagements with a myriad of
government agencies and representatives in a bid
to foster a conductive business environment. As
Singapore continues to develop itself as a regional
hub for major industries, EuroCham’s relevance
becomes strikingly important to offer a support
base for European companies that are looking to
Asia to expand their operations.
To date, Singapore plays host to approximately
11,000 European companies and more are
expected to arrive in due course.
The EuroCham collection of sector
committees has grown from 9 to 11 –
Commercial Vehicles, Financial Services, ICT,
Internship, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR),
Human Resources (HR), Regional Finance
& Tax, Regional Trade, Sustainability, Food &
Pharma Packaging and Wine & Spirits. Sector
committees offer a common European platform
to exchange information, discuss common
issues businesses are facing and undertake
coordinated initiatives.
In line with the work of the sector
committees, EuroCham has successfully
published a number of Position Papers, which
summarise policies and trends in Southeast
Asia with recommended proposals. Examples
are: Traceability: The Cornerstone of Food
Safety Policy (introducing new regulations in
Singapore’s Food Regulations); Position Paper
on Degradable Packaging & Plastic Ban as a
Solution to Littering; and HR White Paper
(outlining priorities for the development of
human capital in ASEAN in lieu of the ASEAN
economic integration project).
“EuroCham has been involved in many
advocacy initiatives in collaboration with
Singaporean authorities, and more projects will
follow. We have been active on diverse fields,
ranging from tourism to taking actions against
counterfeiting, not to mention our engagement
on many policy dialogues on HR or FS. As such,
our presence and close ties with the Singaporean
Government allows us to be a key interlocutor
for European businesses, and we hope to see our
voice growing stronger.”
“In addition, as our scope of action is
constantly widening, EuroCham now aims to
strengthen its collaboration with the Singaporean
Government by taking more initiatives based
on corporate social responsibility, a key aspect
frequently mentioned in the Budget in March,” Mr
Djerf comments on the activities going forward.
Furthermore EuroCham organizes two
annual flagship events – Europe Day Luncheon
and Schuman Lecture Gala Dinner. During these
events, the Chamber has the privilege to host
high profile personalities to deliver a keynote
speech, sharing their thoughts and views of the
global economy and its future implications for
businesses. EuroCham also offers a less formal
platform for its members and the wider business
community to network and access a wide and
diversified audience (arranged four times yearly).
For Mr Djerf his experience from being
President also for SBAS (Swedish Business
Association of Singapore) is significant in his
EuroCham role.
“Not only it is possible but I would say
essential to apply past experiences to future roles
as experience come with knowledge and lessons
on how to overcome a challenge. Each National
Business Group has its own topics of interest.
However, building an advocacy and lobbying
strategy in Singapore is a constant challenge to
all. If the issues are different, the approach remains
the same, and it is crucial to follow the business
environment and culture in place in Singapore.”
And one may also wonder how the head
of Handelsbanken in the region can balance his
additional President roles also with family life?
“Every day is a challenge with many obstacles
to overcome. However, being the President of
EuroCham does not mean I have to face them
alone. I am blessed to have the support of my
family. In addition, I have the great pleasure to
work with a dynamic team offering the support
I need to carry on the work and responsibilities
I hold.“
June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 17

News Brief
Swedish Sustainable Fashion Event in Hong Kong
The Swedish Sustainable Fashion Exhibition
was held on 9-10 April 2016 at PMQ in
Hong Kong where the Secretary for the
Environment, the honorable WONG Kam Sing,
joining in presenting and also donating to the
clothes exchange ‘ShareWare‘
With this initiative citizens of Hong Kong
could join in taking a sustainable standpoint with
regards to fashion whilst giving someone else the
chance to fall in love with their ex-clothes, while
at the same time revitalising their closets in a
climate-friendly way.
At the launch some “nice new things” were
presented and visitors could bring an item they
wished to share through ShareWear on Instagram
and were helped in sharing it forward at the
special Meet-up point. Snap pictures of the visitor
and her/his item were taken in the Photobooth
that could then be uploaded it to #sharewear for
someone nearby to hopefully pick it up.
The launch of ShareWear was a great success,
kicking off in Hong Kong with a live share of 26
designer items that were shared on the day. The
Consulate General of Sweden Hong Kong gives
a huge thanks to all the companies, designers,
celebrities and other individuals that joined in
the sharing. VOID Watches had been donated to
the initiative.
The other brands were: H&M, Fjällräven Hong
Kong, Kapok, Lindex, Squarestreet, Skultuna, Vein,
Carin Wester, Rodebjer, and House Of Dagmar.
“The clothes exchange saw over 1000 pieces
of fashion find new owners. Swapping clothes is a
new idea in Hong Kong but something we really
would like to do again. Everyone had great fun!”
Million tons of textiles are thrown away
each …year. But instead of tossing your clothes
once you’re over them, you could give your exclothes
the chance to fall in love with someone
new. That’s why Sweden launched ShareWear, a
part of the Democreativity initiative, that aims to
inspire a sustainable way to be fashionable.
VisitSweden and the Swedish Institute are the
initiators of ShareWear. They are both responsible
for promoting and creating interest in Sweden
around the world. VisitSweden is Sweden’s official
board of tourism, and promotes the brand of
Sweden, as well as Swedish destinations and
experiences abroad. The Swedish Institute
is a public agency that promotes interest
and confidence in Sweden through strategic
communication, capacity building, cultural cooperation
and scholarships.
Representatives from H&M and Fjällräven
explained, interacted and demonstrated how
they are working with sustainable fashion, share
their sustainable standpoints and inventive ideas
about recycling.
Source: Consulate General of Sweden Hong Kong
18 ScandAsia.China • June 2016

June 2016 • ScandAsia.China 19