Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Sweden’s traders seek for partners in Cebu
TO STRENGTHEN their presence in Cebu, Sweden-based traders are encouraging Cebuano entrepreneurs to partner with them in developing their market here, said Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Annika Markovic.
“Many Swedish SMEs (small and medium enterprises) are eyeing Cebu agents to channel their products here. Cebu is a potential investment destination for us,” Markovic said.
Since most of Sweden’s economy is exports-based, Swedish SMEs are interested on “going global” by trying to forge partnerships with foreign partners, she added.
Favorites
She cited as an example a local spa using Swedish products in its operations.
Likewise, Markovic is optimistic that the entry of Filipino-made products to Sweden will spur growing interest for the country.
Cebu’s export quality mangoes—both fresh and dried—are among the Swedes’ favorites, she told reporters.
On the other hand, Markovic added locally made furniture exported to Sweden “are doing very well.”
“Asian-style furniture has a great opportunity compared to other parts in Europe. Everywhere you go, you see pieces of furniture from Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and other parts of Asia,” she said.
Markovic said aside from mangoes and furniture, the other potential areas of cooperation between the two countries are fashion jewelry, projects on environment protection, software development and tourism.
Tourism
Although she said, in an earlier interview, that Cebu and the entire country must improve the peace and order situation if it wants to lure more tourists, especially the European market.
“Apart from developing infrastructure and accessibility, the country should establish peace with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) because there’s always the perception that there’s bombing everywhere,” she said.
Markovic also expressed concern on the high rates imposed by hotels in the country, compared with those in Thailand.
“Even if its cheap to travel to Cebu since transportation accessibility from one destination to another only takes several hours. High hotel rates are also discouraging many to come,” she said.
Markovic was in Cebu last Friday for the Philippines-Sweden Business Partnership seminar at the City Sports Club Cebu with members of the Cebu business community.
Sweden, which is in northern Europe, has some nine million inhabitants.
It is among the top ten countries in the world with the highest per capita income. (MMM)
