“Diversity is the Engine of Creative Thinking and Innovation”

Since I arrived in Sweden, I have grown to appreciate the spirit of innovation in many parts of Swedish society, particularly the business sector. It is a spirit I recognize from Silicon Valley, close to my California home.

While Silicon Valley is a deeply American success story, it is also a testament to the power of diversity. About half of all companies in Silicon Valley were founded by immigrants, and their life stories, talents, and ideas have helped build our reputation for innovation, and the companies they have created employ hundreds of thousands of people around the world—including in Sweden. I see the same potential here, as Swedish companies capitalize on the economic benefit of new arrivals. This is good for Sweden and good for the substantial U.S.-Swedish economic relationship.

Our increasing economic cooperation will lead to new opportunities for risk takers in under-served markets. Their innovative spirit will create new jobs and economic growth, and be engines to both our economies. It takes enormous courage, energy, ambition — and hope — to start all over and try to build a better life in a foreign country. These are the attributes of great entrepreneurs.

As new arrivals and entrepreneurs work to establish their businesses, it is imperative that their small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have fair access to markets. That is why the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership—TTIP—is a priority for the U.S.-Sweden relationship. Large corporations have enough resources to pay tariffs, build products to differing standards, and pay for duplicative product testing and inspections of their manufacturing facilities. A start up or SME can find these requirements and costs to be insurmountable obstacles. Instead, imagine the economic benefits—to both our countries—if we could unleash their economic opportunity. TTIP is the way to do just that.

We are also working to make it easier for Swedish business professionals to access clients and investors in the United States. The Preclearance Facility at Arlanda Airport is an important step in strengthening our economic connections. This facility will allow travelers to go through U.S. customs and immigration clearance here in Stockholm.

To further enhance investment across the Atlantic, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed a “start-up” visa, which would allow foreign entrepreneurs to temporarily stay in the United States in order to start or scale a business, and any Swedish company that is interested in expanding to the United States can contact the SelectUSA office at the U.S. Embassy in Sweden for free assistance.

At the U.S. Embassy, we continue to connect organizations across Sweden and the United States, creating platforms to facilitate the sharing of ideas and knowledge, and encouraging professional exchanges. ESBRI and the Sweden-U.S. Entrepreneurial Forum have been valuable partners in this effort. Let us continue to build on our mutual strengths in innovation and creativity and to explore synergies that enhance our economic prosperity and security. I look forward to working together to take the economic partnership between the United States and Sweden to the next level.———–