What do China’s Minister of Energy, French mobility experts and dignitaries from Asian metropolises have in common? They all visited Gothenburg in 2017 to be inspired by and learn more about green system solutions through study visits arranged by Green Gothenburg.
During 2017, Green Gothenburg saw to it that 524 people from 15 nations were provided quality-assured knowledge transfer by meeting with experts, exploring solutions and being afforded opportunities to make business contacts. The majority of the 34 study visits constituted Asian decision-makers from afar. In fact, every other participant in Green Gothenburg’s study visits was from an Asian nation, such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia and India.
Transport solutions proved the most popular, which around 30% of the groups were keen to see, followed by energy solutions (20%) and city development (15%). Popular topics and subjects were electricity distribution, the district heating grid and future urban planning.
Swedish companies can reach global markets
Metrum is a small, international company which sells electric quality services in Sweden as well as more distant countries such as Zambia and India. The company’s CEO, Magnus Andersson, underscores several benefits to participating in Green Gothenburg’s study visits. v v
– For our customers in general, seeing is believing. Foreign delegations visiting Sweden get to see our environments, are able to speak with experts and users, and gain an understanding of how our solutions function.
Establishing new business contacts through the study visits is another benefit that Magnus Andersson is eager to point out.
– We are introduced to new contacts who are often senior decision-makers. They can then, in turn, open doors to appropriate contacts at the appropriate level, that will be to our benefit.”
At present, the company is engaged in several procurements in India, thanks to initiatives from Swedish players such as Business Sweden and the Swedish Energy Agency, as well as Green Gothenburg.
Green Gothenburg provides a holistic perspective
– Green Gothenburg’s study visits always aim to provide a clear holistic picture of the complex system solutions. We offer programmes in which experts from the City of Gothenburg and municipal companies, such as Älvstranden Utveckling, Göteborg Energi and Framtiden, participate, explains Sofia McConell, who works for Business Region Göteborg and is responsible for Green Gothenburg.
– Formulating programmes which include experts from environmental engineering companies, Science Parks, test beds and the political sphere is an intricate, creative puzzle. Our strength lies in our ability to offer quality-assured, tailor-made programmes for delegations consisting of influential, high-level decision-makers. It demands that we find openings in the participants’ calendars, and planning normally takes place at least two months in advance.
