Sri Lanka Strengthens Trade and Investment Engagement with Western Sweden
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm successfully concluded ‘Sri Lanka Business Forum 2026’ in Gothenburg, Sweden on 8 October 2026. The Forum was graced by the Lord Mayor and Chairman of the City Council of Gothenburg Aslan Akbas who apprecaited the Forum as an important event to build bridges between Sri Lanka and Gothenburg.
Participation of leading Swedish companies, industry associations and key business stakeholders in the Forum provided an excellent platform to prominently promote Sri Lanka EXPO 2027 and to showcase Sri Lanka's evolving economic landscape, export capabilities, investment opportunities and potential avenues for industrial and technological collaboration to a broad cross section of the Swedish business sector.
The programme featured presentations on Sri Lanka’s economic transformation,emerging business opportunities and investment potential, including a presentation by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI). Mr. Daniel Nordlund, Chairman of the Sweden–Sri Lanka Business Council, together with Swedish investors already operating in Sri Lanka, shared their firsthand experiences and business perspectives, highlighting the country’s investment potential and opportunities for mutually beneficial trade and investment partnerships. A particular focus of the Forum was to reach out to Swedish businesses operating in information and communication technology (ICT), artificial intelligence, digital services, maritime industries, electronics and electrical manufacturing, renewable energy, sustainable mobility, environmental engineering, logistics, and tourism. These sectors offer considerable potential for partnerships through trade, investment, technology transfer, outsourcing, joint ventures and other forms of business cooperation for Sri Lanka.
The initiative also aimed to position Sri Lanka as a reliable sourcing and manufacturing partner, a competitive destination for technology and knowledge-based services, and a strategic location for Swedish companies seeking to diversify their international business operations and strengthen their presence in Asian markets.
These initiatives form part of the Embassy's broader economic diplomacy strategy to expand Sri Lanka's commercial outreach beyond Stockholm, establish stronger links with regional business and innovation ecosystems, and develop long-term partnerships with Swedish companies and institutions.
Preceding to the Forum, the Ambassador and the Minister (Commerce) of the Embassy also visited the Borås region on 7 October 2026 for meetings with the region's textile and innovation ecosystem including the Business Region Borås, the School of Textiles and the Science Park. The visit included engagements with Blåkläder, a leading Swedish workwear company with strong manufacturing links to Sri Lanka as well. Discussions with these entitites focused on sustainable textile manufacturing, circular fashion, innovation, research and development, and opportunities for collaboration between Swedish institutions and Sri Lanka's apparel and textile industry.
The Borås Region is one of Sweden’s leading centres for textiles, fashion, innovation and sustainable manufacturing, with a strong industrial heritage and a well-established ecosystem connecting businesses, research institutions and academia.Home to the University of Borås, the Swedish School of Textiles, Science Park Borås and Textile & Fashion 2030, the region plays an important role in advancing circular textiles, sustainable fashion, smart textiles and innovative manufacturing technologies.
The Embassy will continue to pursue follow-up engagements, business matchmaking and institutional cooperation to translate these connections into tangible trade and investment opportunities.
