ScandAsia South East Asia - August 2015

AUG 2015
Malaysia
Indonesia
Philippines
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
The great escape to Cambodia - why?
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Malaysia
Indonesia
Philippines
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
News Brief
AUG 2015
The great escape to Cambodia - why?
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Sweden’s honorary consul in Penang,
receives the Order of the Polar Star
Sweden’s retiring Honorary Consul in Penang,
Dato’ Dr Rasiah Ratnalingham, has received
The Order Of The Polar Star at an audience
with Swedish King Carl XIV Gustaf and Queen
Silvia in Stockholm.
Dr Ratnalingam, Swedish Honorary Consul in
Penang since 2005 and accompanied by his wife
Datin Saroya,, took part in a Consular Conference
in Stockholm 4-7 May together with the Swedish
Ambassador to Malaysia Bengt G Carlsson. The
consuls had the opportunity to visit the Royal
Castle in Stockholm and at an audience with King
and Queen. Dr Ratnalingam received the Order of
the Polar Star (Nordstjärneorden).
The Order of the Polar Star was until 1975
intended as a reward for Swedish and foreign
“civic merits, for devotion to duty, for science,
literary, learned and useful works and for new and
beneficial institutions”.
After the reorganization of the orders in
1975 the order is only awarded to foreigners and
members of the royal family. It is often awarded to
foreign office holders (such as Prime and Senior
Ministers) during Swedish state visits. It is also
awarded to junior members of royal families who
would not qualify for the more prestigious Royal
Order of the Seraphim.
Honorary Consulate
of Sweden in Penang,
Malaysia closed down
It has been decided that the Swedish Honorary
Consulate in Penang will be closed. The State
Department makes continuous review of the
need for Honorary Consulates around the world.
These are mainly in areas with a significant Swedish
colony, large Swedish tourism or where the
promotion of Sweden is considered particularly
important.
It has turned out that the Swedish tourist
stream to Penang has gone down significantly in
recent years, resulting in few issues for the consulate
to deal with. The number of resident Swedes is
also so small that it cannot justify maintaining the
consulate’s activity after the current consul retired.
Responsibility for the area covered up to the
closure by the Consulate now lies fully with the
Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, which is located at a
reasonable distance from Penang.

Complete Automation
Your Solution partner

News Brief
Volvo Malaysia opens new dealership in Prai
Volvo Trucks Malaysia has opened a
refurbished and enhanced dealership in
Prai reports Bernama.
The opening is part of Volvo’s RM75 million
investment to upgrade its dealerships across
Malaysia.
The Swedish trucks giant described this
investment as crucial for the further development
of Volvo in Malaysia, reflecting on their expanding
presence in the northern part of Malaysia and
also mirroring their growth strategy.
As Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia Bengt
Carlsson opened the premises on 3 July, Managing
Director Mats Nilsson said the group had invested
RM8.5 million to upgrade the space and facilities
of the Prai dealership, which is strategically located
in the Prai Industrial zone.
He said the launch of this centre demonstrates
Volvo’s commitment in providing Malaysians
a closer reach to the group’s total brand and
ownership experience.
“An investment like this is crucial for the
further development of Volvo in Malaysia and
it reflects on our expanding presence in the
northern part of Malaysia and also mirrors our
growth strategy.”
He also said the investment reflected Volvo’s
commitment in network development strategy
which was in line with its corporate direction to
increase customers’ satisfaction and strengthen
relations through higher efficiency.
“As a leader in the heavy duty commercial
vehicle segment in Malaysia, we need to constantly
elevate our service offerings not to just meet
but exceed our customers’ expectations for
aftermarket support.”
In this strive to elevate its aftermarket
support to a higher level Volvo Trucks has also
opened upgraded dealerships in Ipoh, Kuantan,
Kuching and Sibu and have upcoming launches in
Port Klang and Sandakan.
Sibu was, upon the reopening in early 2015
the second highest revenue contributor to Volvo
Trucks after the central region of Peninsular
Malaysia in terms of parts sale.
Volvo Trucks, introduced in Malaysia in 1969,
commands 57 per cent of the market share for
heavy-duty trucks in Malaysia. Volvo Malaysia
achieved stellar performance last year where it
invoiced 424 trucks, an increase of 29 per cent,
from the previous year.
“We have achieved stellar growth in the truck
business and will continue our gain of market
share after an unprecedented 38.5 per cent
growth in truck sales last year.”
“This accomplishment has further reinforced
our position as the leading brand in the European
heavy duty trucks segment in Malaysia,” Mats
Nilsson told reporters.
NBCP holds another
signature ‘Speed
Networking Night’
in Manila
Nordic Business Council Philippines held
its signature Speed Networking Night
at the Globe Tower in Bonifacio Global
City, Manila, on Monday June 15, 2015. Around
70 members and guests took part in the speed
networking, which is a fun and effective way to
meet new people in a coordinated and structured
manner where guests can meet everyone in the
room.
In addition to the speed networking, new
members Globe Telecom Inc., Finnair Plc, KLM
Royal Dutch Airlines, R.G. Manabat & Co. (KPMG),
and Skandinavian Solar Corp. were inducted and
introduced to the NBCP membership. Globe
Telecom EVP for International and Business
Markets Gil B. Genio delivered a message from
event partner Globe to the audience.
“Speed networking is a signature event
of NBCP - we were the first in the chamber
of commerce scene in Manila to introduce to
concept back in early 2013. Since then, we have
held the event on a regular basis, and the feedback
has been very positive each time. NBCP members
and guests specifically appreciate the efficiency of
speed networking as a way to make new business
connections, while also enjoying the casual and
fun aspects of the concept,” Executive Director
Joona Selin told ScandAsia.
NBCP thanked their host Globe Telecom and
premium member BDO Unibank for making the
event possible.
4 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

First joint Nordic Midsummer Party held in Jakarta
News Brief
On 4 June the Nordic Embassies in
Jakarta came together for a first joint
Nordic Midsummer Party as the four
Nordic Embassies; Denmark, Finland, Norway
and Sweden celebrated their annual national
days together.
Nordic Midsummer celebration is about
enjoying the best seasonal foods and drinks,
singing, making flower crowns, playing traditional
games, dancing around midsummer pole or
making midsummer bonfire.
The Nordic Embassies gathered more than
1,000 guests, including Minister of Environment
and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya and Minister of National
Development, Andrinof Chaniago, in the gardens
of Shangri-La hotel in the morning of 4 June
to celebrate the Nordic green and sustainable
lifestyle. With reference to sustainability and the
green theme of the event, the four Ambassadors
together with more than one hundred sporty
colleagues and friends bicycled from Monas to
the Shangri-La hotel to start the party.
The 4 Nordic countries are all focused on
green energy as well as green and healthy living.
Therefore, the Nordic Midsummer Party was
held as a morning garden party with healthy
food and drinks, active games in the 4 country
corners and, on top of it all, many guests joined
the #Bike2Party! The Embassies of Denmark and
Norway together with Bike2Work are trying
to bike Jakarta greener once every month at
#VikingBikingIndonesia
In the hotel gardens, each Embassy had
created a country corner showcasing their green
innocative solutions and products, and engaging
the guests in traditional Scandinavian games such
as “the potato run” and “kick the hat off a stick”
(Hallingkast).
/Source: Norway in Indonesia, Finnish Embassy
Jakarta and Denmark in Indonesia.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 5

News Brief
Carlsberg’s J.C. Jacobsen Foundation starts
off with active first year
In June 2014 Carlsberg Malaysia set up the J. C.
Jacobsen Foundation, as a community outreach
and an extension of the robust Corporate
Social Responsibility program of the international
Danish brewery company. One year later, the
foundation can look back at a busy year.
In September last year, the Foundation took
80 volunteers to the Sungai Liam waterfall in Ulu
Yam to rejuvenate and refresh the area. Following
in November, the charity outreach set out to
contribute, hands-on, to a cleaner environment as
well as to raise the awareness of river ecosystems
at the Sungai Kanching of Templer’s Park.
Everyone has a role to play in preserving
natural water resources as clean water is
important to the livelihood of human kind, was
the philosophy behind this advocacy work. 60
volunteers, comprised of Chairman of J.C. Jacobsen
Foundation Dato’ Lim Say Chong, together with
Carlsberg Malaysia employees and members
from two non-government organisations (NGO),
Kelah Association of Malaysia (KAGUM) and
Rotary Club of Bangsar, rolled up their sleeves to
clean up the riverbanks. Throughout the half-day
community work, volunteers learned about the
freshwater fishes and species, enjoyed the fresh
air and beautiful scenery of the river steams
and the importance of river ecosystem around
Templer’s Park.
The initiative also gave their volunteers the
chance to deepen their knowledge of Malaysian
rivers as a source of water and habitat.
Operating in Shah Alam Carlsberg Malaysia,
through its foundation is is committed to do
its part for the neighbourhood where it is
operating in as to make its neighbourhood a
greener environment. Therefore, in March 2015
the foundation pledged its support towards the
Shah Alam Trees for Life programme by making a
cash contribution of RM45,000.
In joint collaboration with the Shah Alam City
Council (MBSA), some 300 volunteers, from the
public and the Foundation planted approximately
15,000 trees along Jalan Monfort, Seksyen U1
& U2 in Shah Alam. At the trees planting event,
volunteers were also briefed on the various
specifies of trees by Dr. Jean Marc Roda from
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Institute of Tropical
Forestry & Forest Products.
“We believe that through collaboration
with others, we could make a greater impact.
Planting more trees around Shah Alam not only
accentuates the aesthetic of this beautiful city,
it also contributes towards combating climate
change,” said Henrik Juel Andersen, member of
Board of Trustees of J.C. Jacobsen Foundation.
According to Mayor of Shah Alam, Dato’ Hj.
Ahmad Zaharin b. Mohd Saad, the Trees for Life
programme, which is now running in its 5th year,
is an important activity on the city council’s yearly
agenda, as it brings together various parties for
a common goal, that is to value and protect the
environment.
“We are pleased that J.C. Jacobsen
Foundation could be the first partner this year
for MBSA’s Trees for Life and we hope other
corporate entities would follow the Foundation’s
footsteps, as it helps to ensure the success of this
programme,” he said.
The Foundation was named after the founder
of Carlsberg, J.C. Jacobsen, who was known for
his deep passion for philanthropy. Its mission aims
at enhancing and protecting the quality of life of
Malaysians, committed to nurturing a better and
greener future by making a difference and impact
to three core pillars of education, sports and
environment.
Next Danish Ambassadors appointed for China and Vietnam
Upon the departures of Danish
ambassadors Friis Arne Petersen and
John Nielsen, from China and Vietnam
respectively during this summer, the new Danish
ambassadors have been appointed for their
replacement.
A. Carsten Damsgaard, Ambassador to Japan,
is transferred to take over the helm in Beijing,
China, while Charlotte Laursen, from the foreign
ministry in Denmark returns to the Embassy of
Denmark, Vietnam, only this time as Denmark’s
new ambassador, to continue her Southeast-
Asian journey.
The Counsellor once replaced Mikael H.
Winther as deputy head of the Embassy in
Bangkok. And prior to that Mrs. Laursen was
actually posted in Vietnam, in Hanoi since
September 2004 as Deputy Head of Mission.
At Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Charlotte Laursen was responsible for Strategies.
Policy and Quality, and board member of The
Trade Council.
A. Carsten Damsgaard was appointed to be
Denmark’s ambassador to Japan on 1 September
2011. Previously he was the Ambassador to
Afghanistan.
6 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 7

The great escape to
Cambodia - why?
By Bjarne Wildau
There are several good reasons
why you should consider
relocating to Cambodia,
writes Bjarne Wildau
Pick any restaurant in Cambodia where
you see some white people looking like
regulars guests sitting with their daily
“Happy hour” beers. Sit down with
them and notice how the conversation
soon will be about Thailand. Make a head-count
and most likely you will find that at least half of
your new friends are “refugees” from Thailand.
So why is that? Thailand is the “land of smiles”
would it not be better to stay there? Well, let
me take you trough a few god reasons why
Cambodia is far more attractive.
The best visa in the world
Cambodia’s biggest attraction for 95% of the
Barangs (Westerners in Khmer), is perhaps the
visa and work permit rules which are maybe
the most convenient anywhere in the world. In
Cambodia they have two different kinds of visas. I
have no count on the jungle of different types of
visas they have in Thailand.
Cambodia’s Tourist Visa is what most people
buy. It costs around 25 dollars and gives you
permission to stay 30 days. You can extend it
at the nearest travel agency. They will charge
8 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015
a small amount, three maybe five dollars, and
you will have your passport back two or three
working days later. However, you can only extend
a tourist visa inside Cambodia once. The fine for
overstaying is 5$ a day - but don’t even consider
calculating if a ticket out will cost you more than
paying a fine for overstay. Overstaying may end
you in jail. Don’t go there!
The other kind of visa in Cambodia is normally
called “Business visa (EI)”. You can buy the Business
Visa arrival in an airport or at a border crossing.
The price is between 30 to 60 USD depending
on the boss of the local immigration office where
you are trying to enter the country.
Be prepared, that most of the bad experiences
you will have in Cambodia may very well happen
here on the Cambodian side of the border. The
Cambodian side of immigration is typically very
open. Everybody can enter. There will probably
even be people helping you filling out the health
formula. But afterwards they will demand money
for their effort. Other people will probably help
you make your most valuable belongings - cameras,
smart phones, wallet, etc. - disappear. Especially the
Poi Pet border crossing is notorious for theft.
Question: What papers do you need to get
at business visa?
Answer: You need your passport and the
money it costs.
That’s it. You don’t need to prove how much
money you have, neither in your pocket, nor in
any banks abroad or in Cambodia. All of the hassle
that some people have been through in other
countries is gone. It can be hard to believe, but...
it is as simple as that.
The business visa (EI) can be extended up
to one year at a local travel agency. Never, n e
v e r, try to go to the immigration department i
Phnom Penh to save 5$ or a little more. Be good
to yourself and do it locally.
Be aware that you have to buy at least a 6
months business visa extension inside Cambodia
if you want to be able to leave the Kingdom
without having your visa cancelled at the border
crossing. If you have at least a 6 months business
visa you can cross the border every day, until
there is no more space in your passport.
If you want to work in Cambodia, you should
buy a Work Permit. Once again. Nothing to prove,
just pay 100 $ a year. And there is no limitations

For the last three years, the best hospital
in Cambodia has been the Sonja Kill Memorial
Hospital on the Eastern side of the South coast.
Its run by the the HOPE worldwide foundation.
If you get at health problem, worse than a
cold or trivial infections, it is advisable to go to
Thailand or if possible go back home. Without
hesitation. Many rookies are unaware the the
little seemingly innocent infection on their foot
or shin bone may develop into some nasty life
threatening blood infection much faster out here
than it would back home. On top of that, some of
the same people are often unaware that alcohol
and whatever medicine they take could be a bad
cocktail in the heat.
Do they have schools?
Parents with small children seems to do OK. But
what about when children reach the age of preschool?
It seems to be no problem. You will find
the words “International School” on almost every
corner i towns like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville,
Koh Kong, Siem Reap, Kampot, etc.
In reality the only town that comes close
to having a real International School is Phnom
Penh. But you can forget that unless you have an
employer who is ready to pay the school fee, or
you yourself happen to be a dollar millionaire.
Where is it best to settle?
Infrastructure in Cambodia is like in Thailand 30
years ago. But as in Thailand, things are fast getting
better. As an example, they just opened a new
fantastic road from Kampot in the south, close to
the Vietnamese border, to Phnom Penh.
In fact, if you haven’t been to Cambodia for
five or ten year you may think the plane has
landed in the wrong country. The Asian World
Bank calls Cambodia for the “new small Asian
tiger”. They financed and pushed forward for
the renovation and extension of the Cambodian
railways. Three four times a day, trains now arrive
at the trainstation in the harbour city Sihanoukville,
full of goods that would otherwise have had to be
trucked down there on the roads.
which job you can have. Bartender, pancake-baker
and seller with a cart, a restaurant, a factory, run
and drive a minibus service.
Despite the small cost,thousands of Barangs
has for years skipped buying the work permit
and just used the business visa. But recently, the
immigration police has started to implement the
rules. They estimate that only 30% of the working
Barangs in Cambodia have paid the early 100$.
Currently, there are 75 foreigners in jail i
Sihanoukville for visa, work permit or passport
problems. Don’t become one of them when you
can so easily avoid it.
Who should settle in Cambodia?
More and more retired couples stay permanently
or part of the year in Cambodia. Typically when
the weather back home is cold and rainy. They
will soon get to know other couple who have
retired here too.
Some young couples with children also settle
and even open a business.
And then you have a big group of foreigners
who are here on long term stay because of the
easier visa, the cheaper prices, and the cheaper
girls. Before you think bad about “your granddad”,
relax, they will be punished sooner or later.
What are the risks?
Some, but not that many, think about the risks.
Illness and accidents do happen. Cambodia is one
of the countries, where you should consider how
you can safeguard yourself. New hospitals open,
old hospitals are renovated, and the prices go up.
The problem is not the planned situation.
When you know well in advance that you need
an operation for an illness you just go to one of
the private hospitals and they will find a time for
one of the literally flying doctors, specialist who
know their trade.
The problem is the acute stuff. A long term
Scandinavian had the yearly visit of his father. After
a few days he got a heart attack or a stroke and
fell unconscious. The son rushed him to the best
hospital in town but here they said they had to
wait untill they could find a doctor who could
speak English - with the unconscious patient!!!
Luckily, the pensioner from Denmark survived,
but it was not thanks to the English speaking
doctor, who arrived 45 minutes later.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 9

Power supply is still a huge problem. It
improved a lot when a new power plant was
started up one year a go. But you still have
to consider where you settle, and if you will
save the money and stay in a house without
a generator. In short, Phnom Penh, Kampot,
Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap, and maybe -
repeat: maybe - Battambang.
If you plan to do business, here is a website
that may help you:
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/
exploreeconomies/cambodia/starting-abusiness/
Nightlife in Cambodia
In Cambodia, new casinos pop up like
McDonald’s did 10 years ago in China. They are
everywhere. Close to the Vietnamese border,
to the Thai border, and in almost every town in
between with more than 50.000 citizens.
And yes, 90% of the tourist coming to
Cambodia, or long term stayers, are also here
because the prostitutes. Especially the guys
who over in Thailand have spend hundreds
of nights sleeping with prostitutes thinks it is
same-same here.
NOT!
There are places in Cambodia where
men can hire a girl and feel reasonably safe
and secure, but just like you have Pattaya
in Thailand, then in Cambodia a lot of the
sex trade happens on the Octual Beach in
Sihanoukville, at places like Dolphin or JJ bar.
Here, the secret weapon of the freelance
prostitutes is Ketamin, also called horse
medicine. A Scandinavian sex tourist went in
to have a breakfast at a Scandinavian restaurant.
He talk with the owner about freelancers on
the beach. And was warned. Still, 36 hours
he woke up, not naked, but everything else -
including the sweet lovely lady he had brought
home two nights ago - was gone. He even had
to go to Hanoi to get a new passport.
Better stay away?
So should you stay away from Cambodia?
No way if you can live with the standards of
hospitals and education. But yes, please stay
away if you are too smart to listen to other
people’s free advice.
Here is some more of that free stuff: Never
loose control over your mind and your body.
If you walk like a snake at four in the morning,
you are asking for trouble. And don’t buy the
bad stuff, amfetamin, ice, heroin, cocaine, weed,
or whatever they offer you. Cambodia is still
a poor country and some people will do
whatever it takes to survive. The children who
sell bracelets are so nice, cute, and their English
is so good. Oops! Where is my wallet? Or my
brand new Iphone?
This is my restaurant!
Where is my girlfriend?
A
hard working Scandinavian carpenter I knew
was a very very happy man. He lived in
Sihanoukville with his his girlfriend “Mom”.
She was 38 years younger and weighed 38 kilos less
than him. Mom was so nice, both in the bedroom and
in their restaurant, which he had bought in her name
of course.
The carpenter made their restaurant one of the
nicest places in town. The Americans say: Location
location, location, and the restaurant was the first they
saw on their left hand side when they arrived on the
beach.
Mom and the carpenter had a high season, and
a low season, and everything was fine. Then he went
home to Scandinavia to work his socks off so he could
buy some land and build a house for his new family.
Foreigners can not buy land in Cambodia so it would
have to be in her name once again.
Back in Cambodia again, he bought the land,
started to build the house, the restaurant was still OK,
but his girlfriend had changed. One night he saw her
shaking or twitching like on drugs, he confronted her
with his suspicion, but she denied, they made love and
he believed her.
Then one afternoon she came back screaming that
she had been robbed. She was bringing the money
to pay the people who were building their house
and now it was all gone. The carpenter took her in
his strong arms and she calmed down. Then he went
back to Scandinavia to earn some more money to his
wonderful wife.
Back in Denmark, something unusual happened.
She phoned him and asked him to send money.
Normally the restaurant made enough money during
the peak season to make it through the low season. But
her mother had had a bad accident and if she didn’t get
money big big, mama would die.
So the good carpenter transferred the money
and worked one extra month in Denmark. Finally, he
could return. In the tax free in Bangkok he bought her
a bracelet of silver, and some fancy perfume. He even
missed her so much, that he took a taxi straight from
Phnom Penh airport to the restaurant in Sihanoukville.
Stepping out of the taxi, he got his first shock. The
walls were painted white, he could not recognise one
single waiter, and behind the bar there was this big
khmer man ordering the staff to do this or that.
“Who are you? What are you doing behind my bar.
Where is my girlfriend?” the carpenter was screaming.
The man did not answer, just brushed the
carpenter aside. Some 10 minutes later, after 25 bottles
were smashed and the Khmer behind the bar had a
broken nose and two black eyes, the police arrived
and slammed a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of the
carpenter.
On the way to the police station, the police officer
stole the bracelet that the carpenter bought for his
lovely girlfriend.
The short story was that the mother had never
been in any accident but lovely Mom had gone back
to smoking ice 20 minutes after the carpenter had left
for the airport and her boyfriend from since she was
eighteen told her to sell the restaurant.
And I got a good story to tell.
10 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

Ambassador
to Vietnam:
Swedish
innovation
leads way to
renewable
success
By Camilla Mellander
Marking Swedish National Day
on 6 June Swedish Ambassador
Camilla Mellander, Embassy
of Sweden in Hanoi highlights
Swedish innovation and its
development towards sustainability in this article.
By the end of the 19th century, Sweden was
a poor rural country, but in the 20th century,
the economy took off. In 2013 we had a GDP/
capita of about US$60,000 – among the highest
in the world.
Innovation has been one of the key
success factors to this economic growth, and
in Sweden our open and free environment
has meant that innovation and creativity can
prosper. I would like to mention three areas
where our innovativeness propelled us to
the forefront.
Sweden as an IT hub
Sweden is one of the most connected countries
in the world. More than 99 per cent of Swedes
have access to internet broadband. There are
also quite a few IT innovations coming from
Sweden.
If you use a computer mouse, talked to
friends and family through Skype or listened to
streamed music through Spotify, then you are
using Swedish innovations.
Swedish IT companies continue to innovate.
Stockholm has become one of Europe’s leading
hubs of information technology research.
Stockholm is now second only to Silicon Valley
when it comes to billion-dollar IT-startups.
Mojang, the company behind the global success
Minecraft, was bought by Microsoft for a
staggering US$2.5 billion last year.
I am happy to see the positive development in
the Vietnamese IT sector with the recent launch
of Viet Nam’s first homegrown smartphone
– Bphone by BKAV. This is an example of Viet
Nam moving up the value-chain in its key export
industries and becoming increasingly innovative.
Sustainability
Sweden also prides itself on innovations in the
clean-tech sector. We have shown that economic
growth and preserving the environment can go
hand-in-hand. The Swedish economy has nearly
doubled since the 70’s and at the same time
emissions have nearly halved.
About half of all energy consumed in
Sweden comes from renewable sources. We
are also turning waste into valuable energy and
in fact Sweden is today a net importer of waste
that we use for our heating systems. Only about
one per cent of our waste goes in landfills, the
rest is recycled. Buses and taxis in many Swedish
cities now run on biogas that is produced from
household and industrial waste.
Swedish cleantech companies are active
in a wide range of fields, such as waste water
cleaning, biogas, waste-to-energy and just to
mention a few.
Many of these innovative cleantech
companies have started to work here in Viet
Nam as well, bringing technology that can help
Viet Nam on its path to becoming a greener
economy. We are encouraging more of them
to come.
Music
The last area I would like to mention is the
Swedish music industry. Starting in the 70’s with
ABBA, through the 80’s and 90’s with bands
such as Roxette, Europe and Ace of Bace and
now Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and Robyn are
conquering the world with their hits.
Swedish producers also working behind the
scenes of other successful artists, Max Martin for
example is producing for world-known artists
such as Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Katy
Perry. He now has the third most Billboard top
hits in the world only after John Lennon and Paul
McCartney.
Sweden is by far the largest music exporter
in per capita terms and the third largest in the
world in real terms. We are only surpassed by
the United States and the United Kingdom.
A recent success was achieved only two
weeks ago when Mans Zelmerlow with his song
Heroes won the Eurovision Song Contest for
Sweden. This marked the sixth time Sweden win
the award.
To have music you need creativity. To have
creativity you need an open and tolerant
society. This creativity will then translate both
into Billboard hits and technology innovation
which will lead to economic growth. This is the
path Sweden has chosen with creativity and
innovation hand-in-hand.
Republished with kind permission from the
Swedish Embassy in Hanoi.
The article first appeared in Viet Nam News.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 11

Denmark’s Ambassador
to Vietnam reflects upon
the relations
By John Nielsen
Marking Denmark’s Constitution
Day (celebrated also among
Danes abroad), its ambassador
to Vietnam, John Nielsen, reflects
upon the relations between the
two countries during his tenure:
On June 5, Danes commemorate their
constitution, which gives them the right to
free speech, to cast votes and to play a role
in the development of society. We celebrate
the society we have been able to build on
the basis of this constitution, a society with a
vibrant democracy, with welfare standards for all
citizens at its very core; free education, schools
and universities, free healthcare and hospitals,
basic economic support for families-in-need
and a firm focus on building a sustainable green
economy and future.
This year, we also celebrate the 100th
anniversary of a constitutional amendment that
gave women the right to vote and stand for
election.
The Danish welfare state relies on trade
with other countries. Danish exports of goods
and services are equivalent to roughly 55 per
cent of Denmark’s GDP. One in four jobs in
Denmark is directly or indirectly linked to the
export sector.
Denmark has built a strong partnership
with Viet Nam going back to our recognition
of northern Viet Nam in 1971. For the last five
years, I have celebrated Constitution Day in
Viet Nam.
Viet Nam has become my second home.
During my time here, I was happy to see how our
partnership flourished in trade and investment,
at the political level and within sports and culture.
Since 1994, Denmark has provided Viet Nam
with more than US$1.3 billion in development
assistance. Today, Denmark is still among the
largest providers of Official Development
Assistance grants to Viet Nam.
We have supported the Vietnamese
Government’s move for poverty reduction,
offering farmers and fishermen opportunities
to provide for their families. We have supported
good governance and public administrative
reforms, the strengthening of the private
business sector and the national climate
program.
In 2012, visiting Danish Prime Minister
Helle Thorning-Schmidt launched the “Growth
Market Strategy” for Viet Nam, making Viet
Nam one of only 10 priority countries. In 2013,
during the visit of President Truong Tan Sang
to Denmark, a Comprehensive Partnership
Agreement between our two countries was
signed.
Strengthening political dialogue and cooperation,
trade and investment and cooperation
in green growth, as well as education,
culture and research, the Comprehensive
Partnership lifted co-operation to a new level.
In the commercial field, bilateral trade
has doubled since 2010. More than 130
Danish companies are present in Viet Nam.
In a number of key commercial areas, we
have seen a good match between Danish
expertise and technology and the current
challenges and demands in Viet Nam. This
is particularly relevant in regards to energy
efficiency, renewable energy, water and waste
management, as well as fisheries and food
safety, IT, healthcare, shipping and education.
Visits earlier this year to Viet Nam by the
Danish Minister for Trade and Development
Co-operation and the Minister for Education
and a number of Danish educational institutions
demonstrate the clear Danish ambition and
commitment to support the reforms and
development in Viet Nam.
Culture and sports are important areas of
co-operation among our countries. In culture
we have supported children’s literature, film,
painting, design and more than 120 arts and
cultural projects. Denmark supported the
Monsoon Music Festival in Ha Noi last October.
The first international music festival in Viet
Nam, it was inspired by the famous Roskilde
Festival in Denmark. In 2012, we also co-founded
the Viet Nam Mountain Marathon, which now
takes place every year in Sapa.
I am profoundly optimistic about Viet
Nam’s future. Viet Nam still holds great socioeconomic
development potential. Whether this
can be unlocked, largely depends on continued
institutional and economic reforms and
integration of the Vietnamese economy into the
global markets.
As we celebrate our Constitution Day,
Denmark stands ready to forge an even stronger
partnership between our two countries in the
years to come; between our governments, our
companies and not least among our people.
12 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

Medals of honour for
Denmark’s Ambassador
to Vietnam
In early June, 2015, Danish Ambassador John Nielsen received two
medals of honour for the outstanding results achieved during the
Ambassador’s five years term in Vietnam. Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development Cao Đúc Phát awarded the Ambassador with the
medal of honour and stressed the pivotal importance of the Danish
ODA projects that has created jobs for thousands upon thousands of poor
farmers and fishermen in many provinces giving them the opportunity to
provide income for their families.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyên Minh Quang
also awarded the Ambassador with a medal of honour stressing the
importance of the Danish focus on climate, energy, and green growth. The
Minister highlighted among other things the great importance of Denmark’s
support to the Vietnamese Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption
Programme and the Ambassador’s personal commitment as four times
acting Earth Hour Ambassador.
Following on this, later in June President Truong Tan Sang met with
Danish Ambassador John Nielsen and thanked him for the cooperation and
the achieved results. He recognized that the cooperation between Vietnam
and Denmark has reached new heights during the last years, particularly with
the signing of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement.
“After five years here I think of Vietnam as my second home. I am happy
to see how the friendship and partnership between our two countries
flourish within trade and investment, at the political level and within sports,
culture and between our people” says John Nielsen.
“I am optimistic about Vietnam’s future. Vietnam is developing fast and
still holds great socio-economic development potentials. Whether this can
be unlocked, largely depends on continued economic and institutional
reforms and the further integration of the Vietnamese economy into the
global economy. At the same time I am optimistic about an even further
enhanced partnership between Vietnam and Denmark. Denmark and
Danish companies has unique strongholds in many of the areas where
Vietnam are facing some challenges” concludes Mr. John Nielsen.
Vietnam holds farewell ceremony
for Danish Ambassador John Nielsen
Danish Ambassador John Nielsen has met with Mr Lê Hoàng
Quân, the Chairman of the People’s Committee in Ho Chi
Minh City in connection with the Ambassador’s term coming
to an end. The ceremony marked the last five years of fruitful
political partnership between Denmark and Vietnam and the
increased trade and investment between Danish and Vietnamese companies
in the Ho Chi Minh City area.
At the meeting the Chairman expressed his appreciation of the close
collaboration with Denmark. He thanked the Ambassador for his very active
participation in increasing Danish business interests and raising awareness
about climate change. He also recalled his fond memories of the many
delegations that had visited Ho Chi Minh City over the years including
successful visit from the Danish Royal Family.
“We have over these years seen a significant increase of Danish
companies present in the HCMC, Binh Duong & Dong Nai areas. The
Comprehensive Partnership Agreement signed in 2013 provides a good
platform for further expanding this cooperation and I am very optimistic
about the opportunities for increasing our business ties” concluded the
Ambassador.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 13

The Nordic
countries and
China’s AIIB
Q&A
Reader profile
of the month
Fredrik
Sterner
China has welcomed
Denmark’s application
to become a founding
member of Asian
Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB). Danish
Minister of Trade and Development
Mogens Jensen called China’s
establishment of the AIIB “a
significant and exciting development
in the world order.”
“Since many Danish trade
interests as well as development
cooperation interests will be at
stake in the AIIB, there are many
reasons to engage in and influence
the AIIB’s investment decisions from
its beginning,” Jensen said. Denmark
became itself a founding member on
12 April 2015.
Sweden is interested in joining
the China-led Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB), but has not
made an official decision yet, Swedish
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said
during his speech at The Brookings
Institution in Washington, D.C.
“We haven’t decided, but we are
very close and we think we will be
interested in joining too.”
Prime Minister Lofven pointed
to the need for infrastructure
investment in Asia over the coming
decade, estimated to be $70,000
billion.
“Of course, many companies,
many countries want to be part of
those investments,” he noted.
Norway has meanwhile
confirmed its intention to join AIIF
as a prospective founding member.
‘Norway is a substantial
contributor to global development
efforts, and wishes to join countries
from Asia and other parts of
the world in further refining the
structure and mission of the AIIB,’
said Foreign Minister Børge Brende.
‘The establishment of the AIIB
will be important for Norwegian
development priorities. Norway
will work to ensure that the AIIB
embodies the best standards of
governance, accountability and
transparency. We expect it to work
closely with and complement the
efforts of other relevant institutions
such as the Asian Development
Bank, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund,’ said
Mr Brende.
Norway will take part in
discussions with the other
founding members on the AIIB’s
Articles of Agreement, which will
set out the terms of governance
and accountability for the new
institution. The final decision on
Norway’s membership of the AIIB,
together with the structure and level
of Norwegian financial support, will
then be made.
Starting AIIB is aimed at helping
to fund infrastructure projects in
poor Asian countries. The Beijingbased
bank, which will support
infrastructure projects in Asia, is
expected to be operational by the
end of 2015, with China expected to
foot the bulk of the money needed
to get the bank started. Donations
from other members could increase
the size of the overall fund to more
than US$100 billion.
Fredrik Sterner is 29 years
old, originates from Sweden,
lived in Beijing for six years
and now in Shanghai for the past
six month. He works for Per
Linden, CEO of Scandic Foods
Asia. They have several web shops
where they sell Scandinavian
food and beverage products.
From time to time Fredrik misses
Sweden, but it is mainly his family
and friends that he misses. At the
moment he does not have any
plans of moving back.
The best thing about working
in Shanghai is...
the incredibly fast-paced working
environment and all the things
you learn by just going with it.
It has taught me never to slow
down. However, I used to live in
Beijing for six years and it took
me a while to adjust to the speed
of the city.
When I am not working I...
workout, travel with my girlfriend
that I met while I lived in Beijing.
I also study for future challenges,
since it is a good idea to always
stay on top of career pursuits
and what matters to your field.
Especially in China.
My biggest concern before
moving to Shanghai was...
making enough money to get by
long term.
In Shanghai I could do
without...
freezing in the winter due to lack
of heating.
Living outside of Scandinavia
has made me realize...
that the world is a lot less
organized and prosperous
than we realize. Scandinavia is
wonderfully organized, but we
sometimes forget our own history
has it’s periods of chaos. Societies
develop through different stages,
China is just catching up.
I use the Scandinavian
community in Shanghai to...
network, socialize and stay in
touch with our culture. I have a
large network of Scandinavians
that I socialize with mixed
together with people from all
over the world. It is mainly the
food that keeps us together.
In Shanghai I have picked up
the habit of...
planning my life in careful detail. I
always stay on top with my health.
Workouts are regular. I cook on
my own. My girlfriend lives in
Beijing, which requires careful
planning to make everything
work. I like it that way.
My best advice to a newcomer
in Shanghai is...
get ready to work hard.
Compared to Sweden, there
is not a social safety net, which
makes life easier.
14 ScandAsia.South East Asia • August 2015

Enjoy
Naturism
in Asia
Danish naturist
boutique resort
in Bangkok
85 Soi Prasert-Manukitch 29, Yaek 7
Lad Prao district, Bangkok 10230
Location: 13.841978, 100.616500
www.barefeetnaturistresort.com
MB: 096 889 1112
August 2015 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 15