Stockholm Public Library, Sweden

The Stockholm Public Library in southeast Sweden opened in 1928. It has a collection of over two million books and 2.4 million audio tapes, CDs and audiobooks. The library was designed by the architect Gunnar Asplund in the form of a rotunda, or building with a circular ground plan. The design is noted for its simplicity and relative lack of ornament or decoration. Before preparing his design, Asplund researched the latest developments in library architecture in the United States. The Stockholm Public Library was Sweden’s first open shelf library where readers have direct access to books without having to ask for them. A popular international library section has foreign language books and Thai language books are among the most borrowed items there, after Russian-language texts. The library website has a special Thai-language section.

Thailand and Sweden

Last year His Excellency Staffan Herrström was appointed Swedish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand. In January of this year, the ambassador told The Big Chilli:

Thailand and Sweden established formal diplomatic relations in 1883 and we opened our first embassy in Thailand in 1963…A key task overall for the embassy is to promote values which the Swedish people hold dear and which are also universal values of human rights. Sweden now has a feminist government, strongly supportive of gender equality, and my impression is that there is quite an interest in Thailand in Sweden’s work in this area. This is something I would like to explore further. Openness, access to information and transparency are other issues we intend to focus on in Thailand. On the business front, Sweden and Swedish companies are strong on innovation, and there is a lot of interest in Thailand in innovative solutions that will enable the Thai economy to develop and grow. So this is another important area for cooperation. Finally, while in Thailand I want to emphasise sustainability and corporate social responsibility, which relate directly to the two crucial global issues of climate change and environmental protection.

Ambassador Herrström points out that there is lively bilateral trade and investment between Thailand and Sweden:

There are approximately 70 Swedish companies represented in Thailand. Among them are many well-known global brands like Electrolux, Scania, H&M, Oriflame, Tetra Pak, Saab, Securitas, SKF and Volvo… Some products are sold locally and some exported. I am confident that big multinational Swedish companies such as IKEA will continue to operate and invest in Thailand. I also hope that small and medium-size Swedish companies will see long-term opportunities in Thailand, and that Thai companies will continue to do business and invest in Sweden.

About 350,000 Swedish citizens visit Thailand annually, and according to some estimates, tens of thousands live in the Kingdom for all or part of every year. A number of Thais travel to Sweden each year, and thousands live there permanently. The ambassador concludes:

I find Bangkok a very friendly place where it is easy to rapidly feel at home as a foreigner…The major challenge in Bangkok – and this is not unique to Bangkok – is the traffic jams. I am encouraged to see that the city has been able to put the BTS and the MRT systems in place and I look forward to their expansion. This is necessary not only to ease traffic but also to reduce greenhouse gases.

These interests in social responsibility are also reflected on the lively Facebook page of the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok. This month Thais who had studied at Swedish universities were invited to the ambassador’s residence in Bangkok to exchange thoughts about gender equality and their experiences in Sweden. This Thai-Swedish alumni mingle at his residence was an occial for networking and keeping in touch. Earlier this month, a seminar at the Hotel Grand Mercure Bangkok Fortune on Waste-to-Energy: The Swedish Approach was organized as part of the Thai-Sweden Science Diplomacy Program by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Royal Thai Embassy in Sweden, the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI) and Ministry of Science of Thailand. Waste management development, energy solutions, different types of technology, applications, best practices, and future energy system in Sweden were all discussed. As the website of the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office noted,

Sweden has vowed to become one of the world’s first fossil fuel-free nations. It is a global frontrunner in the energy and environment sectors, offering state-of-the-art technologies and services. Being a leading nation in waste management including waste-to-energy systems, Sweden imports garbage from nearby countries to use as fuel. More than 99 % of household waste is recycled and 47 % of household waste is used as fuel in more than 30 waste-to-energy plants throughout the country. In total, the waste-to-energy plants produce electricity to 250,000 private households and provide heating to 810,000 households. Integrating science, technology and innovation (STI) in the collaboration with foreign countries has been set high in the national agenda and is being implemented under science diplomacy program…The seminar provides an opportunity for Thailand to learn the innovative technology and management of waste-to-energy approach from Sweden. The target group of participants are governmental officials, personnel from private companies and researchers from academic institutions who work in the area of energy and environment. The seminar is also open for general public who are interested in this field.

Objectives:

•     To strengthen tangible cooperation between governmental, private and academic agencies of Thailand and Sweden in STI, especially in waste-to-energy approach, in which Sweden is progressive and Thailand is in need of.
•     To encourage the partnership between Thailand and Sweden at all levels, which can create a network connection in the long run.
•     To promote and facilitate knowledge transfer, exchange of best practice, technology transfer and research collaboration.
•     To create public awareness in the field of waste-to-energy approach.

Climate Change and Related Issues.

In yet another innovative venture this month, the Swedish Embassy organized the workshop Urgency in Action – Understanding Human Behavior and Ensuring Human Rights and Gender Equality in the Response to Climate Change. Over 150 attendees included United Nations staff representatives from the ASEAN community, university professors and researchers. Among the subjects discussed were climate change, human rights and gender, and how they are linked. A human rights-based approach for climate change action was proposed.

Business matters.

With all these concerns, the ambassador still had time to address business issues. He told The Nation on May 12:

With the Thai government’s policies to promote investment in special economic zones and in 10 high technology sophisticated industries, Sweden has great interest to expand investment in Thailand, as they are experts in many high-tech industries such as information technology, clean technology, healthcare technology and innovation.

The message is that Thailand could be a gateway for Swedish enterprises to establish a presence in ASEAN countries and Asia in general. Other conclusions:

Thailand and Sweden also have the potential to form closer cooperation in innovation technology and design, and research and development, as Sweden has high expertise. For instance, Sweden could help Thailand develop its Centre for Arts and Crafts International in terms of designing crafts and handicrafts, as well as help develop jewellery and ornament design. Thailand will invite famous designers from Sweden to help train and exchange ideas with Thai jewellery and ornament designers. Swedish traders have also been invited to join the Thailand Innovation and Design Expo and the seminar on Thai-Europe Innotech Links to be held in September for exchanging knowledge about design and technology with Thai entrepreneurs…Rice is the major import from Thailand to Sweden…Other major products shipped to Sweden are electric appliances, automobiles and parts, air-conditioners and clothes.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)