The first business seminar on the investment climate and business opportunities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia was held last week in Stockholm, Sweden.
As reported by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, the event was attended by Chairman of the Sweden–Central Asia Friendship Group of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) Bjorn Soder, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Sweden Nodir Ganiev, Ambassador of Sweden to Kazakhstan Ewa Polano, Ambassador of Sweden to Uzbekistan Tomas Danestad, Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for Eurasia Heinz Sjogren, and representatives of Swedish ministries and large companies.
Speaking at the event, Bjorn Soder noted the strategic importance of enhancing cooperation between Sweden’s and Central Asia’s public and private sectors. Attention was drawn to Central Asia’s huge potential for strengthening trade and economic relations with Sweden, and the limitless prospects for expanding investment partnership.
Ewa Polano and Tomas Danestad shared their views on the dynamic development of Central Asia, emphasizing that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are the “core-countries” of the region. Referencing growing competition in the region, the two ambassadors called on the Swedish business community to invest in Central Asia, as well as expand its presence in the region.
Representative of Scania AB, Fredrik Wijkander, outlined the Swedish company’s presence in Kazakhstan where it has been operating since 2007. In 2023, the assembly of Scania trucks was launched in Saran, in the Karaganda region, and in 2024, Scania AB set up Scania Central Asia as an independent business unit in the region with its head office in Almaty.
Fredrik Wijkander said that despite the high competition from Chinese automakers, the Swedish company will continue to strengthen its presence in Central Asia and expand production. To this effect, he confirmed plans for the assembly of trucks and buses, and establish local production in Kazakhstan.
