The Consulate-General serves seven counties in south and west Sweden and is divided in two main roles, the first deals with visa applications and the latter dealing with the commercial sector.
What Role does your organization play?
Mr Xie Tongyin claimed," Our number one function is to promote the business relationship between the two countries. We do this in a number of ways through consulting of Chinese law and regulation, helping investment companies and also liaising with local merchants for import and export ."
What do you recommend Chinese companies do before establishing here?
To start a business here, you must make thorough investigation to the environment here. For working here properly you must first get a visa-If a company needs to have a Chinese manager here then a three month visa is not long enough for business, you need a working visa which is a year long ." Adds Mr Xie Tongyin.
Is it important to have Chinese staff in Chinese companies here?
“For Research and Development a Chinese company should be able to send head office people over from China. If they employ only Swedish people then it´s hard to have the link with the home company. In my opinion the Swedish government should allow the Chinese companies to have several Chinese staff here."
Is Sweden a good country to establish in?
“Technology here is very good and the automotive industry- that is why automotive companies try to employ local engineers here because they are so good at R&D. On the legal side the framework for business here is excellent, less corruption and people are eager to do business with you. Swedish people are trustworthy and carry out their promises."
Both Mr.Xie Tongyin and Mr. Li Feng felt that other aspects were worthy of mentioning.
“First you must be a student and then a businessman. On the official level the respect is strong because of the long friendship between the countries. Sweden was the first country to establish a diplomatic relationship with the People´s Republic of China. However, there is a view among some Swedish people that China is too far away and this mentality needs to be changed. “
Previously some Swedish companies hesitated to try the Chinese markets believing the consumers were not wealthy enough, this has changed and people need to realize this. China is now a developing country and has been developing greatly in the last 20 years. Hence, Chinese people are, wealthier for the Swedish products.
Sweden is interesting for two types of Chinese companies: Trading companies of import and export, and Research & Development companies. The latter sector is attracted by the ability of Swedish engineers.
Mr.Xie Tongyin concludes,
“Today there are a growing number of Chinese companies in Göteborg and more are expecting to come due to interest in the Baltic Sea area and more knowledge of Göteborg´s IT capabilities ."
Both Mr.Xie Tongyin and Mr. Li Feng expressed a keen interest in cooperating with Business Region Göteborg as a common goal of helping Chinese companies better settle into Göteborg Region exists.