ScandAsia China - August 2015

AUG 2015
China
New director
of Finnish Business Council in Shanghai
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

AUG 2015
Coming Events
China
Finncham Hong Kong Nordic Summer
Lunch IIII – FINDS
New director
of Finnish Business Council in Shanghai
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se
When: Friday 28 August 2015, 12:30 - 14:00
Where: FINDS Restaurant, kl 2/F The Luxe Manor
Hotel, 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon,
Hong Kong.
Your FREE
ScandAsia
Magazine
in China
Every summer, each of the four Nordic chambers in
turn organizes an informal Friday networking lunch
during the summer. Join us for the fourth networking
lunch in the Nordic Summer Lunch Series onFriday,
28 Aug organised by the Finnish Chamber at the
only truly Finnish restaurant in Hong Kong with
Finnish Chef Mr. Jaakko Sorsa!
The concept is simple – bring your friends
and colleagues and come networking, mingling
and meeting members of other Nordic Chambers
(Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish) while
enjoying a set lunch.
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Tailoring Nordic Products, Services and
Marketing to the Chinese Consumer in 2015
Where: Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, 500 Wei Hai Road, Shanghai, 200041, China
When: Wednesday 2 September 2015, 11:30 - 13:30
Please join Finnish Business Council Shanghai
(FBCS) for a FBCS luncheon seminar with one
of the foremost experts of the Chinese digital
marketing landscape – Mark Tanner. China’s vast
opportunities have attracted brands from every
corner of China and the globe, creating one of
the most competitive and dynamic markets in the
world. Those businesses who understand Chinese
consumers, their customer journey and their
emotional and rational buttons, are the most likely
to succeed in China. Many Nordic products and
services meet the fundamental needs of Chinese
consumers, but may fall short on making them
relevant and accessible to Chinese consumers.
Mark will outline factors influencing the Chinese
consumer in 2015 and how to best reach them.
Crayfish parties in Kong Kong and China
Swecham Hong Kong’S Annual Crayfish Party
Where: Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Causeway
Bay, Hong Kong
When: Friday 11 September 2015, 19:30 - 01:30
Don’t miss this traditional evening with delicious
crayfish, dinner buffet, and open bar. There will be a
wonderful mix of tunes from the DJ, but also singing
from the crowd.
This is one of the most popular events hosted
by SwedChamHK – make sure to confirm your
attendance no later than Friday 4 September 2015!
We only have limited number of seats, so bookings
will be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis!
Reservations are required and payment has to be
made in advance. Member of SwedCham: 795 HKD,
Non-Member: 995 HKD, YP Student: 550 HKD
(holders of an YP Fall 2015 membership.)
Swedcham Beijing Crayfish Party 2015
Where: The Royal Garden, Radisson BLU Hotel
Beijing
When: Saturday 12 Sep 2015, 18:30 - 00:00
Chamber Tradition: Save the date for the grand,
annual Crayfish Party! Entertainer is Per Bredhammar,
known from the Prince’s wedding in Sweden with
the “Sofia’s Vals”.
Swedcham Shanghai: Crayfish Party in Shanghai
Where: Paulaner Brauhaus (Expo), 55 Shibo
Dadao, near Nanmatou.
When: Friday 18 September, 18:30 - 23:55
Chamber Traditions: The Swedish Club in Shanghai
invites you to the 2015 traditional Crayfish party.
This year again hosted in the popular garden at
Paulaner Brauhaus.

Bangkok, Thailand
August 2015 • ScandAsia.China 3

News Brief
Defense Minister Chang Wanquan visits
Finland to strengthen military cooperation
On 4 July Chinese State Councilor and
Defense Minister Chang Wanquan
ended his three-day official visit to
Finland, which came upon the 65th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between China and Finland and aimed to put the
significant agreements reached by President Xi
Jinping and Niinisto into practice.
Wrapping up a visit to Finland aimed at
boosting bilateral military cooperation, Wanquan
said China is willing to strengthen military
cooperation with the Nordic country.
In a meeting with Finnish President Sauli
Niinisto in the western city of Naantali on
Friday July 3 Chang Wanquan said that China
and Finland are enjoying sound momentum in
the development of their military-to-military
relations. He said that the military relationship
between China and Finland has gained good
momentum and achieved fruitful results, and
called for efforts to elevate this relationship to a
higher level.
“The armed forces of the two countries
have maintained frequent high-level contact,
their dialogue and exchange mechanisms are
running smoothly, and their cooperation in
professional areas has borne rich fruit,” the
minister added.
China, he said, stands ready to work with the
Finnish side to explore new forms and enrich
the content of bilateral cooperation on the
basis of the existing achievements and explore
more cooperation, thus elevating the military
relationship to a higher level.
President Niinisto, recalling that he and
Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to
launch a future-oriented cooperative partnership
between the two countries, pointed to new
opportunities within these bilateral relations.
The Finnish president said the two countries
are engaging in increasingly close cooperation
in the fields of politics, diplomacy, culture and
defense.
“Finland is willing to improve coordination
and communication with China on such subjects
as climate change and counter-terrorism, with
a view to jointly safeguarding world peace and
prosperity.”
Chang Wanquan also held talks with Finnish
Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto on July 2. The two
sides exchanged views over issues that included
the bilateral military relationship and regional
security situation.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
China’s Vice-Premier meets with top
Finnish leaders
As 2015 marks the 65th anniversary of
the establishment of diplomatic ties
between China and Finland Vice-Premier
Liu Yandong came to the Nordic country in June
on an official visit.
On June 12 she met Finnish President Sauli
Niinisto, Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila and
Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela
in Helsinki.
“China and Finland should integrate
bilateral cooperation with China’s major
projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative,
international cooperation on production capacity
and construction of free trade zones,” said Vice-
Premier Liu Yandong.
China and Finland have been developing their
friendship as well as deepening and expanding
bilateral cooperation, and the Sino-Finnish
relationship has become a leading example of
relationships between countries with different
circumstances and institutions, Liu also remarked.
Her visit to Finland aims to implement the
agreement between President Xi Jinping and his
Finnish counterpart, Niinisto, on developing a
new type of cooperative partnership between
the two countries, and to discuss with the new
Finnish government pushing forward the bilateral
4 ScandAsia.China • August 2015
relationship, she added.
“Finland attaches great importance to its
relationship with China, and is willing to take part
actively in China’s strategies, such as the Belt and
Road initiatives,” Niinisto said.
Prime Minister Sipila appreciated the futureoriented
new-type cooperative partnership,
proposed by Niinisto and President Xi Jinping in
2013. He said he hoped the two countries will
strengthen cooperation in trade and investment,
research and development, clean technology,
environmental protection and medical services.
Finland was one of the first western countries
that recognized New China established in 1949,
and the bilateral partnership has set up an
example for countries with different national
conditions and social systems to develop their
cooperation, China’s Vice-Premier also said.
Liu will conclude her visit in Finland on June
14, and will then visit the Czech Republic and
attend Sino-Central and Eastern Europe Health
Ministers Forum.
Source: The State Council – The People’s
Republic of China
Vice-Premier Liu Yandong meets with Finnish Prime
Minister Juha Sipila on June 12 in Helsinki [Photo/
Xinhua]
Vice-Premier Liu Yandong meets with Speaker of
the Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela on June 12 in
Helsinki. [Photo/Xinhua]

China awards Denmark’s Friis Arne Petersen
“Friendship Ambassador”
News Brief
The Danish Ambassador has been
awarded the honorary title of “Friendship
Ambassador” by the Chinese People’s
Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
(CPAFFC).
The honorary title was conferred upon
Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen, at a ceremony at
the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs the 26th of
June, for his commitment to advancing friendship
and cooperation between Denmark and China
during his tenure as Danish Ambassador to China
2010-2015.
Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen is the first
Danish citizen to receive this award. The honorary
title has existed in 25 years and a total of 96
different citizens have been awarded the title
during these years. It follows the celebrations
of the 65th anniversary of the establishment
of diplomatic relations between Denmark and
China.
At the ceremony the Chinese government
was represented by Vice Minister Wang Chao
from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vice
Energy Minister Liu Qi, Director Generals from
many sectorial ministries – that Denmark has
the closest cooperation with – in the Chinese
Government.
“From when Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen
was Permanent Secretary of the Danish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, to his post as an Ambassador
here, he has been directly involved in growing
bilateral relations, he has personally led the effort
to advance the exchanges and cooperation
between our two countries in various fields
and brought about a number of historical
breakthroughs in our bilateral relationship. He
has captured the hearts of Chinese people
through his sincere exchanges with them both by
participating in popular TV shows such as Tiantian
Xiangshang and through the social media, where
he is the foreign Ambassador with most followers
in China with more than 100,000 followers,” said
Vice Minister Wang Chao.
Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen with Sun Xuguang,
director of the Prince Gong Mansion Muesum.
Vice President Song Jingwu from CPAFFC
was there to present the award to Ambassador
Friis Arne Petersen.
“We hope Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen
will continue to act as the ‘Friendship Ambassador’
between China and Denmark, and enhance the
friendship between our two peoples. We hope
Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen with Vice Minister
Wang Chao from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
that, as an old friend of Chinese people, he
will continue to introduce China to the whole
world and promote the world’s understanding
of China.”
Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen was
appointed as Ambassador to China in 2010. Prior
to China, he was Permanent Secretary of State in
the Danish Foreign Ministry for more than eight
years from 1997-2005, the Danish Ambassador to
the US from 2005 to 2010. Starting from August
2015, he will be posted in Berlin as Denmark’s
new Ambassador to Germany.
“In addition, Ambassador Petersen’s
pioneering spirit and his personal charisma has
also played an important role in enhancing the
mutual understanding and friendship.” said Vice
Minister Wang Chao in his introduction of the
award in the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Next Danish Ambassadors appointed for China and Vietnam
Charlotte Laursen
Carsten Damsgaard
Upon the departures of ambassadors Friis Arne Petersen and John
Nielsen, from China and Vietnam respectively during the summer of
2015, ScandAsia can announce the new Danish ambassadors that have
been appointed some time ago.
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, and 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 she was actually posted in
Vietnam, in Hanoi since September 2004 as Previously Deputy Head of Mission.
At Danish Foreign Ministry 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.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.China 5

News Brief
Danish Consulate Guangzhou hosted
Hong Kong ‘Company Day’
The Royal Danish Consulate General in
Guangzhou hosted in early June a Danish
Company Day in Hong Kong for the second
time. Employees of the Danish companies based
in Hong Kong gathered with other professionals
to expand their network, enjoying an evening
together.
Ole Lindholm, Consul General in Guangzhou,
gave the welcoming speech and thanked the many
participating companies, including DSV, Hempel,
ISS Facility Services, A-Tex Asia, International
Design House, Pandora Jewelry, Kjeldsen, Jebsen
& Co., Carlsberg, Greengate Asia, Maersk and
Mannaz.
A total of 60 attendees were participating -
listening to an interesting speech by Mr. Dennis
Nørmark, a famous Danish anthropologist who
had travelled from Denmark solely for the purpose
of being the keynote speaker at this event.
Mr. Nørmark spoke about the values of
Western culture and happiness in an Asian
context. Following the exciting and interactive
lecture - a delicious buffet was served. After the
dinner, the stage was set for the team competition
among the companies.
Source: Denmark In China, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Denmark
Swedish Midsummer
lunch held in Hong
Kong
New Board for SwedCham Hong Kong
On June 19, 2015 Swedcham Hong Kong
(the Swedish Chamber of Commerce
in Hong Kong) celebrated Swedish
Midsummer with a delicious Swedish Midsummer
menu at Wild Grass restaurant. The expected
smorgasboard of snaps, herring, salmon and
strawberries were served, complemented by
songs and, of course, the May Pole!
On May 22, 2015 the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (SwedCham Hong Kong)
held its Annual General Meeting and elected a new Board.
The new SwedCham Board is as follows:
Chairman: Ohrling, Ulf (Resident Partner Mannheimer Swartling Hong Kong)
Vice Chairmen:
Bergström, Paul (President, Hong Kong and Macau Ericsson)
Hirn, Karine (Founding Partner, East Capital)
Directors:
Bjennmyr, Jimmy (Head of Corporate Banking Handelsbanken International
Gardner, Emma (Management Consulting KPMG)
Ivarsson, Katarina (Founder Boris Design Studio)
Karlsson, Pontus (Co-Founder and Director Happy Rabbit)
Lindvall, Patrik (General Manager The Dairy Farm Company, Ltd. – IKEA)
Ågren, Per (Regional Director, Business Development APC Asia Pacific Cargo ( HK) Ltd)
6 ScandAsia.China • August 2015

News Brief
Denmark’s Chief of Defense, General Peter Bartram in China
Chief of Defense of Denmark General Peter Bartram was on a fiveday
visit to China in mid-June, with increasing and strengthened
cooperation between Denmark and China in the field of defense,
including, but not limited to, peacekeeping and escort missions on the agenda.
At a press conference held on June 19 General Peter Bartram said that
the Chinese and Danish counterparts had agreed to study how to deepen
ties in those areas.
Danish and Chinese forces have been working together in counter
piracy operations such as escorting ships outside the Horn of Africa.
“Denmark has a keen interest in counter-piracy. We account for 9 percent of
maritime-based world transportation, so we have a keen interest in maritime
cooperation,” Bartram said. “I believe China has the same interest.”
Chinese and Danish navies also removed chemical agents from Syria
in 2013. . Bartram said those experiences formed the foundation of future
cooperation between the two countries.
The Danish navy chief will visit China in November to discuss more
concrete plans with his Chinese counterpart.
During his visit the Danish General stayed in Beijing and Xi’an, where he
held meetings with high level officials including State Councillor and Defense
Minister General Chang Wanquan and Chief of the General Staff of the
People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Fang Fenghui.
In addition, he gave a speech to students at the PLA National Defense
University, as well as visited the Beijing-based Ministry of National Defense
Peacekeeping Centre, a Tianjin-based Air Force division and a guard division
under the Beijing Military Area Command.
Sources: Denmark in China, globaltimes.cn
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August 2015 • ScandAsia.China 7

New director of
Finnish Business
Council in Shanghai
By Joakim Persson
8 ScandAsia.China • August 2015

On 1 May 2015 Finnish-Swedish
Mr Oskar Helling started his
position as the new Executive
Director of the Finnish Business
Council in Shanghai (FBCS),
succeeding Mr Timo Laurila.
This gave ScandAsia the perfect reason to
learn more about FBCS, a very vibrant business
chamber in one of the world’s true metropolitans,
and of course its new executive director.
Prior to FBCS, Oskar Helling was partner
and Analyst with Asia8 Group providing regular
China-analysis to a Finnish audience via the Kiina8
- weekly analysis.
Oskar is no stranger to FBCS as he has for a
long time developed the FBCS as Editor-in-Chief
for FinnBiz, member of the board, secretary of the
board and also as Executive Director.
His involvement with FBCS started when
a new Editor-in-Chief was needed for their
member newsletter, he tells ScandAsia.
“With that I became acquainted with a lot of
people and also the Finnish business community.”
“The old saying that China is ‘a journalist’s wet
dream but statistician’s nightmare’ is very true. It is
very difficult to find hard facts on China, but at the
same time there is an abundance of interesting
and fascinating stories,” he comments how he got
into journalism there.
“In my earlier career I had always enjoyed
the process analyzing problems and writing up a
coherent description and a proposal for solution.
I guess the journalist-shoes were fairly easy to fill
with that background.”
Coming over to China back in 2007 he says
he started out from scratch. He had earlier
worked within management, Financial-IT and
general systems development but was not going
to be stuck in a particular field based on old
merits.
Realizing going east
He describes the move to China as a planned and
conscious effort.
“After having visited China and Shanghai as a
tourist in 2005, I realized that its energy, growth
and dynamism were things we wanted to be part
of. A few years later I landed in Shanghai. At that
time I was a trailing spouse having left my old
career behind me.”
Fast forward to 2015 and Oskar has already
been active with FBCS for a number of years,
now in the role to steer this association further
into the future and taking things one step further.
In addition to tending to the daily activities, he
is now actively working together with the board
of directors to develop new forms of services for
the members of FBCS.
“As I got involved with developing the FBCS
and the Finnish chamber activities in China some
7 years ago, I see as a clear goal now to lift the
chamber operations yet to a new level by not
only being active in China but to also take a larger
role in Finland.”
“Landing” services
In forming the future strategy he elaborates:
“As with any national chamber of commerce,
the FBCS exists for its members’ benefit. It’s not
enough to just arrange events and connect people.
That reaches only part of our membership. Other
After having visited China
and Shanghai as a tourist
in 2005, I realized that
its energy, growth and
dynamism were things we
wanted to be part of.
A few years later I landed in
Shanghai. At that time I was
a trailing spouse having left
my old career behind me.
services we are now developing is helping our
members by communicating the realities of the
operating environment in China to headquarters
in Finland and companies preparing to enter the
Chinese markets. This we will do by newsletters,
analyses and speaking engagements. For instance,
we are happy to help out or members by
arranging speakers when they receive guests from
HQ. Also, we make a conscious effort in spreading
China-info in Finland.”
“As the Semi-governmental Consulting agency
Finpro has been sold and ended its for-profit
operations in China, we are seeing a definite need
for some kind of “landing” services for Finnish
companies looking at China,” he continues. “We
will not go into market-entry consulting - there
are plenty of other organizations that can do that
better - but we see a clear need for helping out in
the first steps. Often this entails having discussions
with people and trying to remove unnecessary
costs of the learning curve. We have among
our members collectively thousands of years of
China experience - naturally we want our new
members to benefit from that so that they do not
need to repeat the mistakes of others.”
“A very good way to do this is to work
together with the Finnish innovation hub, FinChi,
where we and most other Team Finland Chinaactors
are located. Where FinChi can provide
the hardware as in offices and other services, we
can provide the Software as in networks, valuable
advice and other connections.”
FBCS now functions as the private-sector
arm of ‘Team Finland China’.
“Naturally, we don’t have the same resources
as our governmental counterparts, but we
are developing more and more forms of cooperation.
One example of this is that we have
our office in the FinChi-centre and will as of this
fall have our workstation together with the other
TF-China actors.”
As for collaborating with other stakeholders,
the collaboration together with the other Nordic
chambers in Shanghai is already very tight.
“Apart from cross-marketing our events and
creating a better networking experience for our
members, we also share experiences and best
practices. With regard to other Finnish chambers,
we are also finding ways for better collaboration.
One great example is our Annual Publication in
which we now as a first step include greetings
from other Finnish chambers in Greater China,
namely Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. We
hope to broaden this collaboration next year
to produce a China-wide member directory of
Finnish companies active here.”
The printed version of FinnBiz has been
discontinued, with a focus on reaching members
more promptly, relying on e-mail, their website,
and this annual publication.
Connecting people
On the events front the Finns in Shanghai is very
active, except during the peak summer months.
“Scandinavians make an exodus to their
home countries after Midsummer. It’s not business
as usual in July-August, but this year we tried to
arrange an event in the “dead zone”. Together
with the Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Swiss
Chambers we managed to get together a decent
crowd to listen to the analyst of one of our
Supporting members, SEB.”
“Yes, events are indeed the visible part of
a chamber’s activities. However, there is a lot
going on behind the scenes that usually does
not get that much attention. One of the most
important activities of a chamber of commerce is
‘Connecting People’ - yes, I blatantly steal the old
Nokia slogan! I often handle multiple connection
requests per day putting people in touch with
each other. Often at the request of one party,
but sometimes also based on earlier discussions
that develop in my mind into a ‘Hey, I need to put
those two in touch with each other!’ insight.”
As for the number of Finnish companies in
Shanghai-today app. 120 corporate membersthe
trend is absolutely positive, according to
Oskar.
“Interestingly enough, I see a steady flow
of new companies showing interest in China. It
seems that even though China is one of the most
difficult environments in the world to operate in,
Finnish companies are learning to deal with the
challenges. I am happy that the FBCS can be part
of making this happen.”
August 2015 • ScandAsia.China 9

Denmark’s
water solutions
and expertise
targeting Asia
When the World Water
Forum took place in South
Korea earlier this year, the
former Danish Minister
of the Environment Ms
Kirsten Brosbøl attended and a Danish Pavilion
showcased Danish water technology and knowhow.
Grundfos, Danfoss, AVK Valves, as well as
DHI, DTU and Danish Water Forum exhibited.
World Water Forum is the world’s biggest
conference on water, and water-related issues.
The minister aimed at putting the water issue
on top of the United Nation’s agenda, and in the
process draw attention to Denmark’s existing
solutions, as big decisions are to be taken during
2015.
The conference should send a strong signal
to the UN to adopt ambitious sustainability
goals for water come September (the UN must
adopt a number of sustainability goals among
other things for water – the so called Sustainable
Development Goals)
Up towards 750 million people are today
living without access to clean drinking water,
and within 10 years this will have increased
to 1.8 billion people living in areas plagued by
water scarcity. And yet, up to half of the water
is today wasted before it reaches those who
should be drinking it.
Water resources are facing constant pressure
from climate change, growing populations,
pollution, and urbanization. Today 1.7 bill. people
are facing water stress. In 2025 this is expected
to rise to 5 billion. Figures like these calls for
improved water management solutions and
partnerships.
“It is with a mixture of pride and frustration I
travel to the World Water Forum. Pride over the
Danish water sector which is world class, and that
can basically solve any problem, which refers to
water and wastewater. But at the same time I am
frustrated that so many people still do not have
access to clean drinking water or proper toilet
facilities,” Ms Kirsten Brosbol said prior to the trip.
Earlier in the year the World Economic
Forum announced that the limited access to
water would become the largest global threat to
economic development and human wellbeing in
the coming 10 years.
“I will work to ensure that we end up with
a strong declaration, which shows the UN that
water is one of the biggest problems while
generating attention to the many Danish solutions
that already exist. The world’s focus on the need
to recycle, purify and conserve water can have
big impact for Denmark and Danish green jobs.”
Danish is commited to an ambitious
sustainable development agenda, which carries
the potential to secure access to clean water for
all, advance frameworks for global partnerships,
increase financing for water, broaden public and
private partnerships etc.
Prior to the conference the minister told the
media that Denmark is turning climate change
into an opportunity and leading the way in
preparing for a water-scarce future.
It has become a showcase of clean water after
50 years of working on applicable solutions. Now
it wants to export these technologies to the rest
of the world.
By investing in measures to adapt to
climate change, such as coastal protection, flood
management, climate resilient buildings and food
security, Denmark has used the climate threat to
create jobs and raise exports as part of its green
growth strategy.
Kirsten Brosbol added that government
oversight had led to companies gaining an edge
against international competitors as the global
paradigm shifted toward sustainable development.
Environmentally sustainable water solutions
are becoming increasingly significant and the
potential for exporting green technological
solutions is rising.
10 ScandAsia.China • August 2015

In order to strengthen the export of Danish
water technolog, the minister has agreed with
the entire water industry for a new vision for the
export of water technology: it must be doubled
by 2025. Potentially, it could create 3-4,000 Danish
jobs.
The country’s current success in the water
industry is driven by public-private partnerships,
as well as high standards of regulation and
innovation.
Denmark also offers wastewater treatment,
with a patented technology called Exelys, which
extracts energy out of the waste sent to the
facility and at the same time reduces the sludge
produced.
Denmark has established a number of
activities in Asia to promote this potentially
revolutionary technology and the country’s skills
within water as the concern over clean drinking
water and water treatment will increasingly push
itself higher on the countries’ agenda.
Among the initiatives ‘specialist export
advisors’ are being sent to embassies around the
world, including China and Vietnam that serves as
“entrance” points to Asia.
Potential markets from the Danish
perspective are seen especially in Vietnam and
Indonesia. In the promotion of Danish Export the
Danish Foreign Ministry has appointed export
ambassadors to support the export potential
for Danish industries for some of the growing
markets, including these two countries.
The BRIC country China is also in focus via
demonstration projects via the Danish Ministry
of the Environment: improving groundwater
mapping in China. And in Indonesia the ministry
is involved looking at reduction of non-revenue
water.
When Kirsten Brosbol visited China in 2014
she signed an agreement for Sino-Danish action
until 2018 in water resources with her Chinese
counterpart. Denmark’s relationship with China is
very strong in particular within the environmental
field, she then pointed out, seeing great potential
within water, aside wind.
Exports of Danish water technology to China
have doubled since 2006, and in 2015 the figure
is expected to surpass €130 million.
Meanwhile, two Danish cities that have
Chinese twin towns have established agreements
within the environmental sector.
Copenhagen has become an official sister
city to Beijing and signed an agreement to work
together on water consumption and flood
management (in addition to previous agreements
for collaboration in areas such as sustainable
urban development and tourism). During 2012-
2020 China plans to invests €470 million in such
efforts, and Danish water technologies can help
improve efficiency further.
And, most recently, supported by the City
Clouncil of Aarhus, the water company DHI
Water & Environment signed a contract in January
2015 with the authorities in Harbin to supply
an advanced metering station able to monitor
drinking water quality around the clock for the 6
million residents. The data from the new Danish
metering station will be gathered and analysed in
DIMS, a program developed by DHI and already
in use in Aarhus.
“China represents enormous potential for
Danish industry - especially within the fields
of climate and environmental protection - and
East Jutland has world-class companies in those
fields, able to help the Chinese to tackle their
big problems. We need to make the most of the
opportunities presented to us, and make use of
the links forged with senior executives in Harbin.
By opening the doors for Danish businesses in
China, we can hopefully create the conditions for
further growth and development in Denmark,”
said Aarhus mayor, Jacob Bundsgaard.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.China 11

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
12 ScandAsia.China • 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

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.
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.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.China 13

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
14 ScandAsia.China • August 2015
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.

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.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.China 15

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