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Halo-halo export to Sweden? Trade minister says 'possibly'

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Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Sweden" s="" Foreign="" Trade="" Minister="" Johan="" Forssell="" is="" in="" Manila="" to="" meet="" with="" Philippine="" cabinet="" officials.="" He="" eyes="" bigger="" trade="" relations="" between="" the="" two="" nations.="" Jekki="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/business/05/19/sweden-foreign-trade-minister-johan-forssell-05192023.jpg"/><figcaption>Sweden&#x27;s Foreign Trade Minister Johan Forssell (left) is in Manila to meet with Philippine cabinet officials. He eyes bigger trade relations between the two nations. <em>Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Sweden is interested in expanding trade with the Philippines and many Swedish companies may invest in the country, its Foreign Trade Minister Johan Forssell said on Friday. </p><p>Forssell is in Manila for a two-day visit to explore how to beef up trade relations between Sweden and the Philippines. </p><p>He said in jest that halo-halo, a popular cold dessert in the Philippines, could be one good export alongside Philippine fruits.</p><p>&quot;I tried the mangoes, of course. It&#x27;s excellent, I must say. Also, I tried this special dessert. Halo-halo. It was a bit different from what I am used to, but I liked it. I had all of it. Perhaps that&#x27;s another possible export product to Sweden from the Philippines,&quot; said Forssell. </p><p>Forsell is meeting with officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Energy, Department of National Defense, Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs.</p><p>He said Sweden is interested in many sectors like power, railways, infrastructure, and security among others.</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s potential in many different areas. It could be in infrastructure, it could be in transportation, the green transition of course. But also health and security,&quot; said Forssell. </p><p>He believes the Philippines is a good place for investments with a young population and growing economy. </p><p>&quot;We have 40 different Swedish companies that are located here today, but we believe there&#x27;s potential for so much more. Very strong, very impressive economic growth,&quot; he added.</p><p>However, he also noted that regulatory reforms could help improve the country&#x27;s investment position.</p><p>&quot;When I&#x27;m talking to Swedish companies here, they tell me that there is a very strong economic possibility here, but of course, there are always things that could be better. We&#x27;re talking about bureaucracy, for example, an area which could be improved,&quot; he revealed.</p><p>Some of the more well-known Swedish companies in the Philippines today include IKEA, H&amp;M, AstraZeneca and Volvo.</p><p>In 2022, Swedish exports to the Philippines hit $152 million, 10.5 percent higher than the previous year. While Philippine exports to Sweden jumped 127 percent to $124 million. </p><p>Philippine exports to Sweden include machinery, fruits, and fish.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/11/22/ikea-philippines-says-balancing-prices-as-inflation-soars">IKEA Philippines says &#x27;balancing&#x27; prices as inflation quickens</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/02/16/23/hm-south-asias-new-communications-head-is-a-filipino">Once ridiculed for his speech defect, this Pinoy is now head of comms for H&amp;M South Asia</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixcsAnCFVtg?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><br/> </div>

Sweden is interested in expanding trade with the Philippines and many Swedish companies may invest in the country, its Foreign Trade Minister Johan Forssell said on Friday. 

Halo-halo export to Sweden? Trade minister says 'possibly'

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Halo-halo export to Sweden? Trade minister says 'possibly'

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 19, 2023 05:17 PM PHT

|

Updated May 20, 2023 06:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Sweden

Johan Forsell

Sweden Foreign Trade Minister

IKEA

H&M

AstraZeneca

Volvo

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