Sweden, located in northern Europe, is one of the Nordic countries which constitute the 12 largest economies in the world.

Today, it is among the most competitive, productive and globalized countries in the world, which are greatly beneficial to foreign investors.

Sweden is presently a global leader of innovation and technology in areas such as Cleantech, ICT, Life Sciences, Automotive and Materials Science industries. In addition, this country is blessed with:

• Highly skilled & productive labour force
• Straight forward & transparent business procedures
• Openness and willingness to do business worldwide

Sweden was ranked as number one by the World Economic Forum in the 2012 Global Information Technology Report which went further to say that: "Sweden has in place a virtuous circle. A conducive environment, combined with the highest degree of readiness and widespread use of ubiquitous technologies, maximize the economic and social impacts of ICT, create new business opportunities, foster innovation, and contribute to reinforce a knowledge-based economy."

According to the US Departments of State's yearly Investment Climate Statement,"Sweden offers an extremely competitive, largely corruption-free economy with access to new products, technologies, skills, and innovations."

Sweden is one of the world's most innovative countries, according to a

study by the UN and the international business school INSEAD.

• Switzerland (Number 1 in 2012)
• Sweden (2)
• United Kingdom (5)
• Netherlands (6)
• United States of America (10)
• Finland (4)
• Hong Kong (China) (8)
• Singapore (3)
• Denmark (7)
• Ireland (9)

More information on this can be found at:

http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2013/article_0016.html

Official name: The Kingdom of Sweden

Political system: Constitutional Monarchy, Parliamentary Government

Head of State: King Carl XVI Gustaf

Prime Minister: Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt

Language: Swedish

Population: 9.5 million

Area: 450,000 sq.km = 174 000 sq.mi.

Time zone: GMT +1 hour

Currency: 1 krona = 100 öre

GDP growth: 0.9 percent

Largest cities: Stockholm (capital), Göteborg, Malmö

Noteworthy memberships: EU since 1995, WTO, OECD

• Mechanical engineering
• Automotive
• Information & Communication Technology
• Pulp & Paper
• Power Generation
• Pharmaceuticals
• Iron & Steel
• Transport Services & Tourism

• Foodstuffs
• Raw Materials & Fuels
• Chemical Products
• Machinery
• Electrical Equipment
• Information & Communication Products & Services
• Road Motor Vehicles
• Textile Products & Apparel
• Tourism

• Europe
• North America
• Asia