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Swe-Cham News Feed | September 22, 2025
     

Welcome H.E. Mr Julius Liljeström, 

Ambassador of Sweden to the Netherlands

   

Photo credits: Frank van Beek


On September 10, 2025 His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands received the Letters of Credence of H.E. Mr Ambassador Liljeström, formally accrediting him as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Netherlands. With this ceremony at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, Ambassador Liljeström officially begins his mission to further strengthen the close and longstanding relations between Sweden and the Netherlands.


We are looking forward welcoming H.E. Mr Julius Liljeström, Ambassador of Sweden to the Netherlands to the Swedish Chamber.

   
   

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome Solta Medical as a new member of our growing Swedish-Dutch business community!

 

Solta Medical® is a pioneer and global leader in the aesthetic field addressing a range of skin treatments under the industry´s premier brands: Thermage®, Fraxel® and Clear + Brilliant®, as well as offering precise body contouring and sculpting with Vaser.


Cindy Kroon New CEO of Vattenfall 

Cindy Kroon, Board Member of the Swedish Chamber has been appointed new CEO of  Swedish Chamber Patron Member Vattenfall N.V., Netherlands, from September 8, 2025. 


Cindy’s former role on the Executive Board, as Chief Commercial Officer, will be merged into the CEO function.
   
   
   

Now open for applications! 


The Swedish Chamber of Commerce, together with the Embassy of Sweden and Business Sweden, invites you to participate in the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2025. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase your company’s achievements and gain recognition within the Swedish business community in the Netherlands.


Winners will be honoured at the Swedish Business Awards Ceremony during the Exclusive Annual Lucia Dinner at the Barbizon Palace - St Olaf's Chapel in Amsterdam on December 4, 2025. Welcome to nominate your own company or another company you would like to recommend.


Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2025:

  • Swedish Chamber Achievement Award 

  • Swedish Chamber Entrepreneurship Award 

  • Swedish Chamber Tech for Good Award 

   
   

Welcome Jakub Jankowski 

new CEO of Inter IKEA Group

After 20 years at IKEA – including leading the IKEA Franchisor from 2018 and CEO of Inter IKEA Group since 2020 – Jon Abrahamsson Ring is handing over to Jakub Jankowski, currently Managing Director for IKEA Industry. Jakub will step into the role as CEO of Inter IKEA Group on 1 January 2026.


"I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Jon for his support, both personal and professional, and for the fruitful and valued collaboration during his time as CEO of Inter IKEA Group. It has been a great pleasure and honour working together, and we deeply appreciate the positive relationship that has been fostered with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands.

We also warmly welcome Mr. Jakub Jankowski as his successor and look forward to establishing a strong and successful partnership with him in the time ahead.


Wishing Jon all the best in his future endeavors."


- Kerstin Gerlagh

Swedish Chamber International Strategic Meeting

Between 15–19 September, Kerstin Gerlagh represented the Netherlands during the Swedish Chamber International (SCI) Board Members’ visit to New York and Washington, D.C., where the Board convened for meetings and strategic discussions aimed at further strengthening and professionalising SCI for the future.


The hosting chambers, the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York (SACCNY) and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce US, had prepared an excellent supplementary programme for the Board. Highlights included a dinner at the residence of the Consul General of Sweden in New York, featuring distinguished speakers, as well as meetings with the CFO and General Manager of Spotify at their New York offices. The programme also included sessions with Nancy Fischer, Financial Times, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Moody’s, AmCham, and several other insightful and impactful discussions. These engagements provided valuable perspectives on today’s U.S. business climate and enhanced our collective understanding of transatlantic business opportunities.
   
   

AstraZeneca Expands Operations in Nijmegen 

   

Swedish Chamber Patron Member AstraZeneca expands operations in Nijmegen.

Mayor Hubert Bruls of Nijmegen officially broke ground on the expansion of AstraZeneca’s facility in the city. With a $70 million investment in sustainable medicine production, the company will add a second flexible filling line and increase its workforce from 100 to around 130 employees.


This expansion highlights AstraZeneca’s commitment to strengthening its Dutch footprint and to advancing Life Sciences & Health (LSH) through sustainable public-private collaboration and innovation.

   

Prinsjesdag 2025 

Analysis from Swedish Chamber Member IvCB Public Affairs & Stakeholdermanagement


Implications of Cabinet Schoof’s (Possibly Final) Budget for Swedish-Dutch Companies


Traditionally, Prinsjesdag is the moment when the Dutch government presents its plans for the year ahead. Always on the third Tuesday of September, the King delivers the Speech from the Throne, while the Minister of Finance submits the Budget Memorandum. 


Prinsjesdag 2025 exists under extraordinary circumstances. Cabinet Schoof I collapsed on 3 June 2025, when the PVV withdrew after stalled negotiations on asylum policy. The crisis deepened further on 22 August 2025, when all NSC ministers resigned collectively – an unprecedented event in Dutch parliamentary history. 

   

The Opening of the Riksdag Session 2025 

The Swedish Riksdag opened again on Tuesday, September 9. The opening marks the start of the new working year, the 2025/26 Riksdag session, for both the Riksdag and its 349 members.

 

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson presented the Statement of Government Policy, outlining the policies the Government intends to pursue during the coming year.


Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson presented the budget, aimed at ameliorating the financial situation of families and hard-working people. Civil defence, defence investments and military support to Ukraine are also prioritised in the new budget.


Photo credits: Riksdagsförvaltningen

   
     

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