Yesterday I visited the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) for meetings.
I also attended a Reception in the beautiful Ministry of Foreign Affairs palace on the occasion of an international meeting held in Stockholm, namely the 2nd WCO Europe Regional Workshop on Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is located in a historic building called ‘The Hereditary Prince’s Palace’ (Arvfurstens Palats) in the very center of Stockholm. It is a beautiful location close to the Royal Palace and the Royal Swedish Opera House. For a very long time it was used by the Royal family. Since 1906 it is the home of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the closest MFA administration.
It was great to meet many old colleagues and friends from the Customs world at this meeting and reception.
Sweden is the country in the world that makes the greatest contributions to the world and to mankind, according to the latest ranking ‘The Good Country Index’.
“Sweden is outdtanding when it comes to thinking about the rest of the world” says Simon Anholt spokesperson for the index.
The Good Country Index is a list that ranks countries according to what efforts they make to the world and it measures all countries based on 35 indicators and with data from the United Nations and the World Bank.
In the latest edition of the index, Sweden ranks in the top as number one – the country that, relative to its size, is most contributing and generous of others of all countries in the world.
Sweden is followed by Denmark and the Netherlands.
The index assesses all countries in seven different areas, namely; science and technology, culture, international peace and security, international order, the planet & the climate, prosperity & equality and health & wellbeing.
Sweden scored highest in the two categories. “To be number one in two categories is pretty amazing”, says Simon Anholt to media.
‘Health & wellbeing’ covers things that contribute to stopping the pandemic and to send doctors to the international health disasters. ‘Prosperity & equality’ is mainly about international trade.
If you want to read more about the survey and thenkndex, click here: The Good Country Index
Yesterday I was interviewed for the most popular talkshow in Azerbaijan by a famous and very respected Azeri journalist.
The exclusive interview was a held as an one hour conversation about globalization, international trade, Customs, borders and gow to modernize important Government institutions.
It was a great pleasure to be able to – in this longer format – explain how the world now is changing and how important it is to continue development of border institutions making it possible to be a part of bew global value chains and the international supply chain.
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