2012-01-26
Congratulations Customs on International Customs Day
On 26 January every year Customs administrations of 177 Member States of the World Customs Organisation organize various national events to celebrate the first session of the Customs Co-operation Council (WCO). On its part, the WCO Secretariat has chosen a topic for the International Customs Day. This year the 26 January' celebrations are devoted to promote the concept of connectivity, and will have as its slogan “Borders divide, Customs connects”. The WCO states that the topic will provide Customs authorities with an opportunity to carefully consider their policies in this respect and as well as promote their initiatives to strengthen cooperation and communication with other Customs administrations and with the public and private sector, whether at national, regional or international level. Every year, Sweden and Swedish Customs joins the rest of the members of the Customs administrations of the world to observe this day. This is a great opportunity to recognize the important work carried out each day by customs officers on our borders, and the commitment to promote international trade and to fight all forms of illegal activities. I am proud Customs officer since 28 years and I want to take this opportunity to send greetings to all my Customs friends all around the world. We, Customs officers in the global customs community, stand on guard and protect our societies around the clock, 24/7 and 365 days a year. Customs is important. This day is important. Congratulations to the important profession of Customs.

2012-01-25
Zlatan best in Italy
AC Milan sweden international soccer striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been voted the best player in Serie A in 2011 at the Oscar del Calcio awards on Monday.

The annual awards, held in Milan, are voted for by Serie A players and recognise the best player, coach, club and referee from the previous season.
Ibrahimovic was voted both Best Player and Best Foreign Player while Massimiliano Allegri won the Best Coach award after guiding Milan to the Serie A title.

2012-01-25
New World Bank Vice President for Africa
The World Bank earlier this month announced the appointment of Makhtar Diop, a Senegalese national, as its new Vice President for Africa.

He succeeds Obiageli "Oby" Ezekwesili who will return to Nigeria in early May after serving as the region's Vice President since 2007. Diop, the World Bank's Country Director for Brazil since 2009, will take up his new position on May 6th. A former Finance Minister in Senegal and Chair of the West African Monetary Union (WAEMU) Board of Finance Ministers, Diop joined the World Bank in 2001 and has served in various senior positions, including as the World Bank's Country Director for Kenya, Eritrea, and Somalia, as well as Director of Strategy and Operations in the Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region.

2012-01-25
IMF Marks Down Global Growth Forecast, Sees Risk on Rise
With intensifying strains in the euro area weighing on the global outlook, the IMF sharply cuts its forecast for world growth to 3.3 percent this year, saying prospects have dimmed and risks to financial stability have increased.

2012-01-25
Three seminfinalists ready for the battle of the medals
The IHF 2012 Euroepan team handball championship in Serbia is going in to its last round when the top teams in this tournament will battle for the medals. Three teams are already through to the four semifinal spots with one game to go of the second group round. Kroatia, Serbia and Spain are already in the semifinals. Germany, denmark and FYROM Macedonia are fighting for the last place in the finals. Favourites France, who are the current World, Olympic and European champions are already out from the top places after loosing to Croatia 22-29 yesterday. Spain has been very strong so far, but both Croatia and home team Serbia has played well and have home crowds that supports their teams to top perfromances. My guess is that germany will take the last place. Spain will be favourites, but my own money is on Croatia.

2012-01-25
IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton Underscores Deeper Partnership with Asia to Cushion Impact of Global Economic Crisis
International Monetary Fund (IMF) will look to work ever more closely with Asia to lessen the impact of the global crisis on the region and to help promote sounder and stronger growth globally, David Lipton, IMF First Deputy Managing Director, said recently. In his first major speech since his appointment late last year to the IMF management position, Mr. Lipton told participants at Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong that “Asia’s economies today are strong and showing great promise, in part because of the reforms introduced courageously, and not without painful consequences, when Asia faced its own crisis in the nineties. But now it is problems in the rest of the world, Europe in particular, that pose a risk to Asian prosperity. Now, Asia has a stake in seeing Europe solve its problems and even in playing a role in that process. “Beyond that, Asia has its own challenges, both in the near and longer term,” Mr. Lipton warned, but “by working together, more and better than in the past, Asia and the IMF can help ensure stability and prosperity for the region and for the world,” he added. Reflecting on the global outlook, Mr. Lipton observed that “at the global level, the pace of economic activity is weakening, and the risks for Europe and the world are high.” But, he stressed, “rather than allow ourselves to be paralyzed by pessimism, it is time to focus on the more hopeful perspective of working our way through this crisis. If there is good news, it is that we know what policies are needed, and we are busy trying to muster the finance to support those policies.” Without bold action however, “Europe could be swept into a downward spiral of collapsing confidence, stagnant growth, and fewer jobs. And in today’s interconnected global economy, no country and no region would be immune from that catastrophe. This is especially true for Asia,” Mr. Lipton said, reflecting its tight trade and financial links with Europe.

2012-01-24
Raoul Wallenberg 1912-2012
The Swedish Government has decided to commemorate, in Sweden and internationally, Raoul Wallenberg´s centenary in 2012 by honouring his memory with various events and activities.

This web portal will function as a guide for the year's events. Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg made a unique contribution in the second half of 1944 by saving tens of thousands of Jews in Budapest from the Holocaust. His actions show that one person´s courage and ability can make a difference. His actions are a model for us, not least at a time when more people need to stand up against persecution, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. Raoul Wallenberg was captured by the Soviet Union and taken to the notorious Ljubljanka prison in Moscow. No one knows for sure what happened next, and the Swedish Government is still demanding an explanation. Raoul Wallenberg fought against one of the terror dictatorships of his time, and was killed by the other.

2012-01-23
Zlatan scores, again
AC Milan's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring his 2nd goal during the seria A match Novara against AC Milan yesterday.

Milan won this away game 3-0. Ibrahimovic scored two goals and made the pass to Robinhos goal. Zlatan leads the goalscoring legaue in Italy with 14 goals in 16 games. Milan is second in the Serie A, one point after Juventus.

2012-01-23
Happy New Year China!
I want to congratulate all my Chinese friends on the Chinese New Year!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

2012-01-23
Welcome Croatia!
Balkan state ready to become 28th member of the European Union as referendum delivers an overwhelming yes vote. Croatia has voted to join the EU by a sweeping majority, delivering a greater than expected yes vote in a referendum watched nervously in Brussels for fear of a backlash. With the EU facing its worst ever crisis, with the sovereign debt emergency sapping its self-belief, and Greece's membership of the euro in doubt, there were fears that the pessimism engulfing Europe would dampen pro-EU sentiment in Croatia. But the referendum held on Sunday on joining the EU next year as the union's 28th member was supported by up to 67%, according to official projections based on around 40% of the vote. The solid yes vote was higher than what had been predicted in the opinion polls. The endorsement means that Croatia, barring any last-minute hiccups, will become the EU's 28th member country in July next year, symbolising its break with the Balkans and former Yugoslavia and anchoring it strongly in the European mainstream as well as Nato. Senior politicians in Zagreb described the referendum as historic. Only once before in the country's 20 years of independence has a referendum been held, that to secede from Yugoslavia in 1991. Despite the EU being at its lowest ebb arguably ever, leading Croatian figures are relieved that the country is bolting into the union before the doors close on further expansion. The surge in enlarging the union by 12 countries over the past decade is over. Turkey's bid to join — it started negotiations at the same time as Croatia in 2005 — has stalled. The rest of former Yugoslavia and Albania are keen to join and Brussels continues to pay lip-service to that aim.

2012-01-23
We played 29-29 against Poland
Sweden had an awful second half of the first game of the second group of the European Championship in handball, played in Serbia right now. The young Swedish team played dream handball in the first half, leading the game 20-9 in halftime. In the second half the talented new team totally lost the concept and at bthe end the game went to 29-29. This was a devestating result for Sweden since we needed a win. sweden was also the best team of the game ad shoul of cause have won. When Poland did a one-on-one tactiv move against Swedish best player Kim Andersson, we lost our pace. Tonight Sweden plays home favourites Serbia in front of 20.000 hime fans. Regardless of this game, our tournament is over and Sweden will not play for the medals.

2012-01-22
The Croats are believed to say yes to EU
Croats are expected to say yes to EU membership in today's referendum, which opened early in the morning.
Polls are predicting around 60 percent yes vote. Polls close at 19 Swedish time. The country can become a member in 2013. If that should happen, even the current 27 EU countries ratify Croatia's membership. Despite the economic crisis in the EU, Croatians are not turned back the Union. But Radovan Vukadinovic, professor of international politics, says that expectations are lower on what the EU can offer Croatia.

2012-01-22
Changed strategy for Afghanistan and Kosovo
This year, Sweden will be changing its peace and security operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. This change is taking place to adapt to the increasingly stable situation in these countries. In future, there will be a greater focus on development assistance and civilian operations, while military support will gradually be phased out.

2012-01-22
UN human rights conventions have been updated
The international human rights work is based on the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. The rights enshrined in the Declaration have subsequently been introduced and developed in a number of conventions that are binding on the States. A large majority of the world's countries have acceded to the Conventions. Together they form a universal framework for work on human rights.

2012-01-22
Sweden climbs in the FIFA world ranking
Sweden climbs one place in the FIFA world rankings and is now in 17th place. Very few games have been played since the last FIFA world rankings published at the end of last year, but Sweden climbs still an investment.

National team coach Erik Hamrén team is now ranked in 17th place, the next best position since February 2007. Victories in the January tour would do that Sweden could climb further and pass in both Switzerland and this summer's European Championship opponents France. France (15th) and England (5th) is currently before the blue and yellow, which can console themselves with the prime adversary Ukraine are the first to arrive the 54th The largest climbing did Saudi Arabia (87: a) and Nicaragua (145: a), both of which jumped nine placements without playing. But thanks to the previous year's profit loss in value so they could climb significantly. Spain remains world number one, far ahead of runner-up Holland and third-place Germany. After the bang victory against Holland last fall reached Sweden's best finish in the past five years. Then you were ranked in 14th place. FIFA world ranking. First Spain, 2. Holland, 3. Germany, 4. Uruguay, 5. England, 6. Brazil, 7. Portugal, 8. Croatia, 9. Italy, 10. Argentina, 11. Denmark, 12. Chile, 13. Russia, 14. Greece, 15. France, 16. Switzerland, 17. Sweden, 18. Ivory Coast, 19. Japan, 19. Bosnia.

2012-01-22
Finland goes to the presidential election today
Favorite in the election is former Conservative leader Mr Niinistö, but everything suggests that he will not win right away but it will be a second ballot. If none of the eight candidates receiving at least 50 percent of the votes, the winner gets to meet the second best in a second ballot on February 5. Niinistö main contender is the Greens' Pekka Haavisto and the Centre Party's Paavo Väyrönen. More than four million Finns have voting rights and 1.3 million have voted in advance. Polls close at 18 Swedish time.

2012-01-21
South Korean soldiers in the snow
20 degrees below zero. Snow. And soldiers with naked bodies. The South Korean soldiers are drilled really hard to get ready for actions if necessary.

Let us all hope that they will only keep training and that we, Korea and the world, will not need their services.

2012-01-21
Global Organizations to Expand Cooperation on Green Growth for Development
Governments looking to design and implement green growth policies and move towards a green economy now have a new source of information and assistance. Four leading global organizations today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Green Growth Knowledge Platform, a cutting edge global initiative that will identify and address major knowledge gaps in green growth theory and practice. The agreement was signed by the Global Green Growth Institute, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Bank. “This MoU marks the formal launch of essential international cooperation on testing, exploring, and refining policies and actions on green growth for practical implementation in both developed and developing countries,” said Richard Samans, Executive Director of the Global Green Growth Institute. The coming decade will offer major opportunities for synergy between environmental and economic sustainability. For example, developing countries can factor “green” into their new investments in infrastructure and can further develop agriculture and other natural resources to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and reduce poverty. “Governments seeking to re-ignite growth after the crisis,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, “should harness innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship to drive the shift to greener economies. We must intensify our efforts to move towards green growth to preserve natural capital and reduce pollution. It will be essential to avoid path dependency by breaking old habits of consumption and investing in new technology and infrastructure. The Green Growth Knowledge Platform will be key for facilitating collaboration among our four institutions, to provide governments with the best possible tools to achieve this goal.” The Green Growth Knowledge Platform will improve local, national, and global economic policy-making around the world by providing rigorous and relevant analysis of the various synergies and tradeoffs between the economy and the environment. It will complement other efforts by emphasizing policy instruments that yield local environmental co-benefits while stimulating growth, providing a compelling set of incentives for governments.

2012-01-20
2012 - The year when BRICS will take over
We are moving towards a historic shift in emerging countries in 2012 is on the established economies' GDP. This year, emerging markets for the first time in history to catch up and pass the eteblerade industrialized countries, calculated as the overall global purchasing power and GDP.

It traces the IMF. We find thus a shift of enormous historic proportions. China is already the world's second largest economy. This year, India, according to the IMF, passing Japan and take third place. European Union (EU) is still considering heaviest if one adds together all the member countries' GDP, but those of the individual EU countries, only Germany's economy is now among the five largest in the world. Three of the world's ten largest companies are now Chinese. The Mexican telecom billionaire Carlos Slim is now the world's richest man, well ahead of the Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Globalization is here. For the Swedish part one might despair of old - industrial and exporting nation, but statistic shows another truth. The statistics show that Swedish companies are well ahead in the fast growing markets of Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Sweden exports to the BRIC countries, ie the major emerging markets Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is now larger than our exports to the United States. BRICS is now our third largest export market after Germany and Norway. When our traditional trading partners in Europe is slow, it is a huge benefit that Swedish companies are present in the parts of the world that are going well. It is therefore possible for Sweden to be the only EU country, as well as 2011 and 2011, show a positive growth for 2012.

2012-01-20
Sweden in the second round of Team Handball European Championship
Sweden will play the second round of the European championship, starting this weekend. Unfortunately the team had a unnecessary loss to Germany 25-29 yesterday evening. Sweden had already secured the place in the second round, while Germany was fighting to stay in the tournament. However the loss proved to be fatal when FYROM beat Czeck Republic later in the evening. In the next group stage, Sweden will play hosts Serbia, Poland and Denmark in the second round. In the group Serbia has 4p, Germany 4p, Poland 2p, sweden 1p, FYROM 1p and Denmark 0p from the frist round. The two best teams will play semifinals against the other pool. After the loss to Germany, a team Sweden normally should beat, it will be very difficult to reach the semifinals.

2012-01-20
Africas green revolution is brown
The Ethiopian organization ISD led by Sue Edwards shows how traditional knowledge combined with modern science can improve returns from the earth and support the local community as neighboring cities. ISD recently received the Gothenburg Prize for his work on sustainable food security in Tigray region of Ethiopia. SIDA is since 2005 one of the financiers to ISD.

2012-01-20
Do not miss this! Springsteen goes "Wrecking Ball"
On March 6th Bruse Springsteen releases his new studio album with legendary E Street Band. The new album is named "Wreckning Ball".

It is the first album without legendary saxophone player Clarence Clemmons that passed away last summer. Th new album is rumoured to be a rock'n roll album. First single, "We take care of our own" sounds brilliant. You can listen to it here. A really good piece of advice is: 1) Take a note of the date, March 6, 2) Que up outside the record store, 3) But the new album.

2012-01-19
SAS to expand cooperation with Singapore Airlines
The airlines SAS and Singapore Airlines plans to begin operating along the route Stockholm - Singapore. Already this summer signed an agreement statement, and have now arrived at a form of cooperation.

Shares drop on Thursday, nearly 4 percent. SAS has had a flying start to the trading year. So far this year, shares have risen about 11 percent, mainly due to rumors about takeovers and partnerships.

2012-01-19
Fredrik Reinfeldt to working dinner with Merkel
Today, Thursday January 19, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in having an informal working dinner with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. At the meeting, which takes place outside Berlin, is also involved Portugal and Austria's government. The agenda includes the future development of the EU in light of the debt crisis. In the bi-lateral meeting the two leaders will also talk about other international issues, like representation in international organizations.

2012-01-19
World Bank warns emerging nations
High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. Developing countries should take steps to plan for a global economic meltdown on a par with 2008-09 if the European sovereign debt crisis escalates, the World Bank warned on Wednesday in its latest economic forecasts, according to FT. Predicting significantly slower global growth in 2012 than it expected last summer even if the eurozone muddles through its crisis, World Bank economists said that if financial markets deny funds to eurozone economies, global growth would be about 4 percentage points lower than even these figures, with poorer economies far from immune. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. Andrew Burns, head of macroeconomics at the Bank, told journalists in London: “Developing countries should hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” Stressing the importance of contingency planning, he added: “An escalation of the crisis would spare no one. Developed and developing-country growth rates could fall by as much or more than in 2008-09.”. The world economy would find it much more difficult to grow out of a new economic crisis, the World Bank warned, because rich countries had little monetary or fiscal ammunition available to stem any vicious circle and poorer countries now have “much less abundant capital, less vibrant trade opportunities and weaker financial support for both private and public activity [than in 2009]”. The World Bank declined to predict how likely such a scenario was and added that there was little that developing countries could do to prevent a severe crisis, but urged them to evaluate their vulnerability to a euro-led crisis. Even without a descent into a fresh crisis, the World Bank’s economic forecasts are significantly lower than those in June 2011, reflecting downside risks seen last summer which have already materialised. Using market exchange rates, the global economy is likely to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2012 and 3.1 per cent in 2013 compared with forecasts of 3.6 per cent for both years forecast only six months ago. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. The motor of the global economy – developing nations – is slower at the same time as the world’s largest economic area – the EU – is in recession and these could feed on each other,” Mr Burns said. If such a vicious circle were to develop, developing countries would find it impossible to decouple from European woes, he added. Many would be affected by falling oil and commodity prices, remittances sent home from workers in rich countries could fall more than 5 per cent along with income in rich countries, banking systems in poor countries would be vulnerable to financing risk as many developing countries have significant short-term debt falling due in 2012 and a confidence crisis would also hit spending in rich and poor countries alike. China was the only large economy that had the capacity and will to implement policies to counter a new global downturn, Mr Burns said, but even the world’s second-largest economy’s power to counter recessionary forces would be weaker than in 2008 because the bank lending stimulus created an overheated housing sector while other methods of stimulating growth would be slower and less effective in stimulating demand.

2012-01-18
Sweden on top of group after important victory
Last night Sweden won the group final against Czech Republic 33-29 in the first group round of the European Handball Federations Euro 2012 European Team Handball Championship in Serbia. This means that Sweden has 3 points after two games, having played a surprising draw 26-26 against FYROM. Macedonia has a 4500 strong Macedonians on the stands and are playing better than expected. Sweden played very well against Czech Republic, that won the first game in the group against Germany. In the Sweden squad, the dominating players so far have been Kim Andersson, Niklas Ekberg - both of them from the beginning from my old home town club - Andreas Nilsson, Magnus Jernemyr and Henrik Lundqvist plus the two goalkeepers Johan Sjöstand and Andreas Palicka. Sweden is alread through to the next round and play Germany in the last game on Thursday. The first games of the tournament have displayed very good handball. Both favourites France and Denmark have lostb their first games. spain beat France and home team Serbia defeated Denmark yesterday. We are looking forward to the rest of the tournament.   
You can follow the tournament on the official website

2012-01-18
More Swedish support to Arabic spring countries
At the Swedish public sector conference, Folk & Försvar, the Minister of International Development and cooperation Ms. Gunilla Carlsson stated that Government will support the countries of the Arabic spring another billion kroner in financial support this year as help to rebuild the countries. In her speech, "Hope, struggle and change in the Freedom Crescent" she talked about the importance of freedom in the world. You can read the speech in English here

2012-01-18
Secure borders required for economic development
Secure borders required for economic development
Kenya’s former UN Ambassador urges Sweden to take the lead in the work to create more secure borders. “Three emerging trends that define relations between and within states are likely to permeate the deliberations. They are: (1) intensified focus on the nexus between security and development and how to achieve both simultaneously in a cost-effective manner; (2) increased attention to advanced technology as an antidote to 21st century challenges; and (3) greater emphasis on “whole of society” solutions to global problems, meaning that societies’ full resources, public and private sectors, as well as civil society, are utilized to achieve national and international security and economic development objectives, as well as create financial profit. You will be hard-pressed to find someone among this distinguished group of policymakers, experts and journalists that reject Kofi Annan’s axiom that  - you cannot have development without security and you cannot have security without development. However, widespread practical implementation of this powerful logic is still largely an unfulfilled promise. Insufficient cooperation and coordination of resources—financial, technical and human—between military, security and development communities worldwide remains a significant obstacle to change. Sweden has overcome barriers to progress before on the international arena and can again take a leadership role”, says Kenya’s former UN Ambassador Ochieng Adala to Swedish newsblog Newsmill. 
You can read the article here

2012-01-17
Serie A gets tighter
At this weekend, there were a row of results in the Italian first soccer league, Serie A, that further intensed the battle for the title (the Scudetto). Leaders Milan lost at home to town rivals Inter, 0-1, despite a massive 70-30 posseion, and 10-2 corner set-piece statistics. In addition Juventus in second place lost two points at home in their game and Udinese in third place lost their game. It is now a race between Milan, Juventus, Udinese, Inter, Napol and Lazio. My money is on Milan.

2012-01-17
Billion Dollar seizure of cocaine on sunken submarine
Divers from the FBI has garnered 6.7 tons of cocaine from a sunken submarine. The submarine left by smugglers off the coast of Honduras when they were chased by U.S. and Honduran troops. It was in November last year that a group of smugglers tried to escape from Honduras with its cargo of cocaine, probably bound for the United States. But the smugglers were forced to abandon the submarine since the discovery of the U.S. and Honduran military. Three of the men were later arrested, writes AFP. Their submarine sank and remained at 900 m depth and only later were divers from the FBI-sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard and a Canadian naval vessel to reach the submarine and salvage her cargo. According to the Canadian Navy cocaine valued at more than a billion dollars on the street in the United States. The FBI will not say where the cargo was salvaged.

2012-01-16
The European Commission visited Denmark on Wednesday January 11 and Thursday January 12
The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt held a joint press conference dafter the meeting presenting the working programme for the following 6 months.

The Commission and the Danish Government have had a number of meetings where they discussed how the Danish Presidency in cooperation with the Commission in the next six months can contribute to lifting the EU on its way out of the crisis. The Danish Presidency’s priorities were welcomed by the President of the Commission and the commissioners, who expressed their support for the Danish Presidency’s priorities and plans for the next six months. In addition to the meetings between the Government and the Commission the program also included the formal Opening Ceremony of the Danish Presidency, opening of the exhibition “Europe meets the world” at the Danish National Museum by the Prime Minister and the President of the Commission and a lunch with H.M. the Queen of Denmark.

2012-01-16
The power of the good example
For a few years Sweden through SIDA has supported the modernization and reform of the Ethiopian Revenue Authority (ERCA) under the WCO-SIDA East African component of the Columbus programme. The results have been outstanding. ERCA is today a leading administration achieving remarkable goals under the very competent leadership of Director General Melaku Fenta. ERCA has become a good example for others to follow. The same can be said about a number of Customs administrations around the world that have achieved similar results under the WCO Columbus programme, like i.e.; Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Argentina and Brazil. Just to mention some. The power of the good example is vital for any capacity building process. We need to create local examples that can serve as models in the regions. We can never transfer models from one part of the world to another, experience have proven that. But we can transfer best practices within a region, where the environment is the same. That is the way to implement international standards. However, good examples from different parts of the world can indeed work as inspiring examples; we need to focus more on building real sustainable implementation successes in the heartland of the developing world. All the countries mentioned above, and many others, can play both these roles.

2012-01-16
Train in Vain
Joe Strummer and Mick Jones were 27 years old when he wrote one of the best songs in history, Train in Vain. It is a song recorded by Strummers punk band The Clash in 1979.

It was released as the third and final single from their third album, London Calling. The song was not originally listed on the album's track listing, appearing as a secret track at the end of the album. This was because the track was added to the record at the last minute, when the sleeve was already in production. It was the first Clash song to crack the United States Top 30 charts and in 2004, the song was ranked number 292 on Rolling Stones magazine's list of the 500 Greatest songs of all time. I hold it even much higher than that. Here it is: Train in Vain

2012-01-15
365
Another year is here. An unwritten page in the book of life. 15 day into 2012 there is still 350 new days to explore this year.

Books to write, places to visit, projects to start, programmes to monitor and plans to be made. It is time to transform some new ideas into reality.

2012-01-14
Swaziland and Sweden
At the WCO Council session 2011, the Kingdoms of Sweden and Swaziland signed a WCO tripartite cooperation agreement for capacity building with financial sponsorship from the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The practical partnership, based on this simple but very effective model, started directly after the Council session ended. The top management of the Swaziland Revenue Authority defined their most urgent and prioritized needs into a strategic action plan. Representation from top management of Swedish Customs visited Swaziland and together in close cooperation a capacity building program was developed and designed. The programme started working in practice directly and the first activity was launched within a few months from the Council session, totally based on the needs identified and prioritized by Swaziland Customs. The programme is a sub-component of the WCO-SIDA SACU project under the Columbus programme and fully in line with and supporting the regional initiative. Four parallel tracks of the Swaziland programme are now operational and up and running. So far the programme is a great success. I have personally participated in the planning and monitoring of the programme and I am very happy with what I have seen and experienced. The officials from Swaziland Revenue Authority are very professional and the programme has received tremendous support from Government. It is a great experience for me to see a model - that I myself together with key colleagues from the CBD - initiated when working as Director of Capacity Building in the WCO Secretariat, working so well in practice. I will follow this programme with high expectations in the year to come.

2012-01-14
MI4
I saw Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 4 at the movies earlier this week. I am always interested in films based on old TV shows from the past and Mission Impossible is no exception from that rule.

I enjoyed the playful innovative use technology gadgets of the MI1-3. However, it is always dangerous to make too many films in a popular series. So, MI4 is not the best film I have ever seen. Not even in its genre, or in the 4-film MI series. There are some nice twists. The bad guy, as evil as any Bond villain, and even though he is Swedish (!) and is played by Swedish actor Mikael Nyqvist - who also played lead role Mikael Blomqvist in the Swedish movie version of Stieg Larsson The Girl with Dragon tattoo trilogy - it is not the best character role I have seen in this type of movie. However, having said all of that - it is 2 hours of action. Neither more or less. My evaluation? Two customs

2012-01-13
Mobilizing good will for capacity building
In the aftermath of the global financial crises, a lot of countries have learned the lesson that it is necessary to continue the investments in capacity building for customs and trade. Trade is the driver of our knowledge based economies in the 21st century, just like trade has been the driver for developing countries to transform into emerging countries and solid economies for decades. That is why it is essential to keep the development support on the same levels as before despite tough domestic economic situations in many of our countries. So this is also what has happened. However, the crises have triggered further new mechanisms for monitoring and follow-up of development aid and support. Models and approaches like Result Based Management (RBM) are today obligatory demands from almost all development banks and agencies. We have ended up with the catch 22 situation where there is more money around for real projects, but it is more difficult to access it. There is a delicate balance to strike between demands and what is possible to deliver. We cannot have a situation where you need capacity building to be able to get capacity building. That is also why many donors now search for multilateral and regional institutions that can act as partners, brokers and facilitators for development support. An organization like the WCO is perfectly positioned through the recent year’s experiences from the Columbus programme, to become a leading organization in this perspective. That is why it is necessary for the organization to develop a new strategy for financial development support. There is a need for a new modern platform to attract more donors and donor money over time. A model like that could easily be implemented within the WCO secretariat in Brussels for the benefit of all member countries. I sincerely hope that the leadership of the organization and its decision-making bodies will study this issue and that decisions will be taken in this direction. If so, the future will be bright for customs capacity building. It is time to mobilize all resources possible to build a better world.

2012-01-12
David Aguilar new Acting Commissioner for USCBP
Leadership of U.S. Customs and Border Protection changed hands on the 30th December as Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano administered the oath of office to Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski. Outgoing Commissioner Alan D. Bersin gave his farewell address during the ceremony at CBP’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. Napolitano lauded Bersin’s management of CBP since he assumed agency leadership in March 2010. “He has set clear priorities and implemented innovative policies and strategies to meet them,” said Napolitano. “And he has achieved remarkable results.” The secretary added that although Bersin is leaving CBP, “he is not going far.” She announced that President Barack Obama appointed Bersin to the newly created position of assistant secretary of international affairs and chief diplomatic officer. In that role, Bersin “will oversee the strategic development and execution of DHS’s international plans and policies and will be responsible for forging new partnerships with foreign governments and international organizations,” said Napolitano. After introducing the accomplishments of incoming CBP leaders Aguilar and Winkowski, Napolitano added that “we’re very pleased to have two, long-time CBP veterans serving at the helm and bringing their broad range of experience to their daily mission.”

In his remarks, Aguilar said that his CBP team will continue to build on the foundation that has been set. “Our job is complex,” he said to the men and women of CBP. “It is tough; it is very demanding, but I know your mettle—I know what you’re made of.” Aguilar paid homage to the history of CBP’s legacy agencies and expressed confidence in the anticipated achievements of CBP’s employees, “so that those who come after us will stand on even tougher and harder ground than we stand on today in protecting our nation.”

Bersin saluted and thanked the many people with whom he worked during his tenure as commissioner. “I really love this job, and I really love this agency,” he said. “They’ve made me a more capable leader and a better manager. I’ll miss them very much.” “I’ve learned the tremendous capacities of the CBP work force to rise to any occasion, to adapt to any challenge and to honor their solemn vow to the citizens of this country,” said Bersin. “Thank you for all you do to protect this country.” In closing, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute honored and thanked the families of the CBP leaders, recognizing their often unsung sacrifices. As Winkowski moves to the acting deputy commissioner position, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Field Operations Kevin McAleenan will become the Office of Field Operations acting assistant commissioner.

2012-01-12
Congratulations ANC
This week, ANC - The African National Congress - celebrates its 100 years anniversary.

ANC is the oldest liberation and human rights movement in Africa. More than 40 heads of states participated in the celebrations in Bloemfontein, where ANC once was born. President Jacob Zuma held the official speech during the celebrations. Congratulations all activist friends of the ANC.

2012-01-12
A beautiful city
Being in Stockholm always makes happy, since this got to be the most beautiful capital in the world.

I have worked in Stockholm, more or less the last 15 years. Walking the streets of Stockholm is great. Even in the middle of winter. In summertime it an even more fantastic city with the waterways and the 35-40 000 islands of the archipelago. For those of you that have not visited Stockholm, I have only one advice - book a trip for this summer. Preferably July or August. You will not regret it.

2012-01-11
Back in Sweden
After a few days in Brussels, I am now back in Sweden and in the office for a few days. There is a heavy travel schedule and a lot of international work this spring so it is necessary to keep the desk clean once in a while.

2012-01-11
A soccer hero for President ?
For a moment it seemed like King Eric of the football pitch, one-time Messiah of Manchester United, amateur philosopher and now French film and theatre star had taken his capacity for personal reinvention to the limit.

Pictured wearing a tie on the front page of the French daily Libération alongside a letter to French mayors asking for 500 signatures – the symbolic number needed to run for president – it appeared that Eric Cantona was launching a bid to run for French head of state in the presidential elections this spring. But in the cold light of morning, Cantona's gesture was revealed to be the latest in a string of highly effective publicity coups to raise awareness of the plight of poor people in France. Cantona's letter to local politicians was in fact a call for them to sign a petition on the French housing crisis for the leading charity, the Abbé Pierre Foundation. "He isn't looking for signatures to be a candidate for the presidency, but to pass on the message of the Abbé Pierre foundation in support of better housing policy, and to make housing, which is a priority for French people, a priority for the presidential candidates," Libération's deputy editor, Paul Quinio, told the I-tele news channel. The paper clarified that the hugely popular "Canto" would not be striking fear into the ruling rightwing UMP party and opposition Socialists by "fighting a campaign from city to city, rally to rally", but was just trying to mobilise people over the issue of France's growing housing crisis. "I'm a committed citizen," Cantona wrote in his letter to local mayors. "This engagement obliges me to speak up, more seriously than usual, but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country is faced with difficult choices." Three months before French presidential elections in April and May, the spectre of a genuine presidential bid by "King Eric" might have caused ructions, even if his hero status is biggest in England, where he is revered as a miracle goal scorer with a famous rebel kung-fu kick. In 2010 the 45-year-old "Eric le Rouge" grabbed French headlines when he called for people to stage a mass withdrawel of money from banks in protest at the financial crises. In the end, the idea fell flat. But in France, novelty presidential bids can threaten to seriously damage to the main players. In 1980, when the standup comedian Coluche announced he was running for president, polls showed him taking 16% of the vote and he eventually dropped out after fierce political lobbying and fears he would bleed votes from François Mitterrand. As Libération noted, Cantona's stance as citizen crusader went beyond party politics and could appeal to a French electorate, which is fiercely sceptical of the political class. The 2012 French presidential election has already seen unpredictable twists, namely the fate of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was last year thought to be shoo-in to become the next French president before his arrest in May over the alleged attempted rape of a New York hotel maid. The criminal charges were dropped by the New York prosecutor and a civil case is pending. But Strauss-Kahn's political career in France is seen as over. The latest poll by BVA showed the Socialist François Hollande in the lead in the first-round presidential vote on 28%, followed by Nicolas Sarkozy on 24%. The extreme right Marine Le Pen was polling high at 17%. The question is how far Cantona's publicity move pushes the French housing crisis to the top of the agenda for the presidential candidates. "He's welcome, I'd like him to take part in the debate," said the Socialist MP Arnaud Montebourg. Others, including the Green leader, Cécile Duflot, and Socialist Michel Sapin, close to Hollande, lamented that the only way to push a topic on to the agenda was to seem to run for president. The ruling rightwing UMP party, responsible for current housing policy, argued that housing was already a priority for this election. More than 10 million French people are affected by the housing crisis, with an acute lack of social housing in France. About 3.5 million live in poor or unfit housing or precarious situations. All of this according to French newspapers today.

2012-01-11
Don’t upset this guy
With the 2012 EHF European Men’s Handball Championship in Serbia coming up, Sweden is mobilizing our efforts for a great championship.

Even though some key players are injured, we still have the best defender in the world. Magnus Jernemyr from FC Barcelona, is a really really tough guy and last year he lead his team Barca to the national title and the Champions League. With his 202 cm and 115 kg of muscles he is definitely not a player you want to run into on the field. I have seen Jernemyr single-handle win games for teams. This the guy you want to lead a team. I am happy that he is from Sweden.

2012-01-11
A brilliant man
Paul Hewson, also known as Bono. Lead singer and song writer in the irsih rock band, U2. The closest I ever came to having an idol or a hero.

Bono is a working class man and a brilliant song writer. His lyrics are great and alwyas linked to his roots. As he has said himself, "My father worked in the post office by day and sang opera by night. We lived on the north side of Dublin in a place called Cedarwood Road. He had a lot of attitude. He gave some to me - and a voice". Or in the lyrics:

Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough
You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight
(from the song "Sometimes you can´t make it on your own")

And he is also a romantic which shows here:

"You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold
All the promises we break from the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you"
(from the song "All I want is you")
Another topic is family. This song was written to his band mate and side kick, Dave "The Edge" Evans (or as Bono always present him on cemcerts "...even his mother call him, The Edge) daughter:

"I'll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind
And you feel like no one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not
(from the song "Original of the species")
Bono is fantastic song writer. I grew up with his songs and I still listen to U2 almost every day. This year we will get a new album from U2. I can´t wait to listen to the new songs...

2012-01-10
Luck
US Tv producing company HBO has produced a number of amazing TV shows and series over the last year. Now it is time for the next one.

A couple of actors with impressive track records are off to the tracks in HBO's new drama about horse racing, called Luck. The drama reveals the gritty underworld of gambling revolving around the sport, with legendary actor Dustin Hoffman starring as Ace Bernestein, a man who is back on the streets after three years in prison. I'm not into horse racing by any means, but I'm curious to see Academy Award winner Hoffman on the small screen — and to learn more details behind what is sure to be his sketchy backstory. Nick Nolte also stars, and HBO alum David Milch (Deadwood) wrote the pilot episode with one of my favourites directors, Michael Mann, directing. Luck has premiere in January, can't wait to see it - but you can get a better feel for the series when you watch the trailer.
Watch Trailer

2012-01-10
Back at the WCO
Great to be back in my old office and dear workplace again. Visiting for a meeting. I love this place, the center of the customs world. Great people, importnat work.

2012-01-10
What is ahead for Latin America in 2012?
A few days after the first sunrise of 2012 kissed the shores of Latin America, it is natural to ask: What does the New Year hold for the region’s economies, especially with Europe still under stress? Nicolás Eyzaguirre , Director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, speculate about the next steps for Latin America. For sure, a dimmer economic environment, here and abroad. Growth has softened in the larger countries of the region. Looking North, the United States is growing a bit more, but elsewhere activity is softening, including in China—an increasingly important customer for the region’s commodities. Perhaps more importantly, global financial markets are still strained, because many questions about advanced economies remain unanswered: a) The future course of the European crisis remains the biggest risk. Progress so far toward a comprehensive solution has not yet calmed financial markets, b) The United States has yet to strike the right fiscal policy balance, with both near-term support for growth and long-term sustainability. How do we at the IMF add this up to arrive at a new outlook for the Americas in 2012? While our official forecasts won’t be public for a few weeks, we can say that the outlook for the year ahead will not be better than what we thought in October, when our last forecasts were published (we publish new ones on January 24, in the World Economic Outlook Update; look for our blog update around then). To be sure, we don’t see a recession coming in Latin America if the European crisis remains contained, but weaker growth is clearly in the cards, not least because confidence and commodity prices have been falling. Financial risks continue to dominate the outlook. These days, all eyes are on Europe. While deteriorating conditions there have not yet spilled over to Latin America, we will not be immune if the risks move to the foreground. Euro zone banks account for one quarter of banking assets in the larger Latin American countries, on average, and many of those banks are not lending or rolling over existing lines in an effort to shore up their balance sheets. But if the simmering crisis in Europe comes to a boil, that process could speed up, especially if euro zone banks are starved for short-term dollar funds (though these banks have prudently funded their Latin American activities largely through local-currency deposits, reducing their vulnerability to a dollar funding squeeze). Fewer external credit lines available to banks could trigger a credit crunch in Latin America, coming on top of a decline in confidence and slower investment and, if the malaise spreads to Asia, falling commodity prices: a toxic mix for growth and stability. What should countries do in the face of this risky outlook? A lot depends on their current macroeconomic situation. On the monetary policy front, some countries are already taking preemptive steps, moving to neutral or easing, because they have inflation under control and activity is ebbing. (Easing may not be an option in countries with higher inflation or heavy dollarization.). On the fiscal front, the major lesson from Europe today—and from Latin America’s past—is that sound public finances are crucial. In countries where fiscal room permits, there may be come a time to spend public money to fight a downturn as was done in 2009. But that time is later, if the risks appear; not now. The European crisis shows how countries with wide fiscal deficits can suffer a sudden loss of credibility that triggers capital flight, even when public debt is at manageable levels. Meanwhile, financial systems should be under extra scrutiny for signs of stress, with a particularly watchful eye for liquidity strains. The good news is that many countries in the region are entering 2012 from a position of strengths. Many countries have managed their economies and markets skillfully since the 2008 crisis. In particular, the 2008 crisis taught Latin America the importance of maintaining healthy liquidity conditions to avoid a credit crunch, which is very difficult to combat with macroeconomic policies. Moreover, for the most part, banks are sound, monetary policy frameworks are increasingly credible, international reserve coverage is adequate, and public finances are strong. The key will be to hold that position. Overall, as 2012 kicks off, our advice is to hope for good news, but prepare for the bad.

2012-01-10
Excellent meeting in the WCO
Today I participated in the second meeting in WCO Capacity Building donor working group. The group, that is an open working group under the WCO Capacity Building Committee, is set up to strengthen the donor coordination for WCO capacity building programmes like i.e. the Columbus programme. The working group is open for participation and a number of Member countries and donor organizations participate. The aim is to increase coordination, avoid duplication and attract more donors and donor contributions to cover the identified global needs for implementation of international standards, reform and modernization of customs institutions around the world. The work of the group has so far been very successful and positive and the first report from the working group will be presented at the 3rd WCO Capacity Building Committee meeting in Brussels at the end of February 2012.

2012-01-10
African Development Bank becomes more transparent
Henrik Bergquist, who works with the international development banks in the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Department for Multilateral Development Cooperation, writes here about the African Development Bank's new policy of openness. "The best ideas in this world is both fundamentally correct and practically useful. One telling example is the transparency of public administration. At the level of principle, we need citizens to be transparent, since the public exercise of power is done on our behalf. On a practical level is best outcomes for all who are interested can read and comment on proposed and completed operations, while some makers and officials that their work is in public will lead to a tighter accuracy. Here in Sweden we had a principle of public access since member Anders Chydenius and others ran through the first Freedom of the Press in the 1765/66 year riskdag - and the experience has to be said to have been good. Together with other countries, Sweden has long been pushing the importance of transparency in international politics. openaid.se government's initiative is an expression, where the government To utilize technology to provide maximum transparency in the Swedish government's development cooperation with other countries. Last year we were active in efforts to develop a new transparency policy of the World Bank. During the autumn, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has worked to develop a new written policy on their own work with transparency and access to information. After a preliminary examination in the spring and one round of written comments during the summer and autumn, the responsible sub-committee of the Bank Board consider a new draft of the document in January. Accepts Board document, hopefully with further improvements , we will have a policy of transparency in the bank in new garb. A pretty decent and colorful attire, it will be. The most important achievement is that the bank faced with a principle of public access in the management of their actions. Under the existing policy to only the documents published as available on a list of open documents. Now it's the opposite. As a starting point, all documents should be public unless they are on a list of exceptions. This principle of public access already exists in the World Bank, and hopefully this change alone could lead to even improvement of quality and confidence in the AfDB's work. The new policy includes important changes also in the more detailed issues. The list of exceptions to the public has gradually limited and clarified to make public as comprehensive as possible. Even in Sweden we have exceptions in open government, as in respect of personal privacy, but it is crucial to offentlighetsprincipens credibility that the exceptions are so few and predictable as they may be. Among other things, the bank on a proposal by Sweden and the Nordic-Indian constituency we are part of the Bank's board, removed the exception relating to Procurement of the bank. Since procurement is often related to large amounts of money, it is especially important to have high transparency to strengthen procurement practices and countering corruption. The Swedish proposal, the Bank has also introduced a inquiries prohibitions, in the same manner as in the Swedish constitution. It is not permissible for bank employees to ask for the name or purpose of the inquiry of the person who asks for a document extradited, unless there are special reasons for it. The individuals who approach a larger institution that AfDB can easily perceive themselves falling into an inferior the position. If you ask representatives of the department what it is called, what to have a certain paper and the like can questioner easily get discouraged. It is therefore important that the department can not do things that harm the integrity of or scare away the person asking the question".

2012-01-09
Handball EHF Mens´s Handball Euro 2012 starts
The 2012 EHF European Men’s Handball Championship will be held in Serbia from 15–29 January. Four time European champions Sweden has been hit hard before the start of the tournament.

After learning that right-back Oscar Carlén will not be able to participate at the EHF EURO due to the second rupture of a crucial ligament in a year, Jonas Källman has had to pull out too. The left-winger of the Swedish national team and top Spanish club Atletico Madrid has to undergo heart surgery. So, Swedish hopes are lower than one year before, when they finished fourth as the host of World Championship 2011and qualified directly as the host of an Olympic Qualification Tournament (6 – 8 April 2012). Coaches Olsson and Ola Lindgren, which I have played with and against in the far past, have nominated the following squad of 17 players for those final steps: Goalkeeper: Mattias Andersson, SG Flensburg-Handewitt; Andreas Palicka, THW Kiel; Johan Sjöstrand, FC Barcelona, Field players: Henrik Lundström, THW Kiel; Fredrik Petersen, Bjerringbro/Silkeborg; Magnus Jernemyr, FC Barcelona; Tobias Karlsson, SG Flensburg-Handewitt; Niclas Barud, IK Sävehof; Andreas Nilsson, IFK Skövde; Niclas Ekberg, AG Köpenhamn; Mattias Zachrisson, IF Eskilstuna Guif; Jonathan Stenbäcken, Fuchse Berlin; Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz, HBC Nantes; Dalibor Doder, GW Minden; Jonas Larholm, AAB Aalborg; Kim Andersson, THW Kiel; Johan Jakobsson, AAB Alborg. At EHF EURO 2012 Sweden will face Germany, Macedonia and Czech Republic in their Preliminary Round games of Group B in Nis. Favourites for the title is France. Other challengers are: Denmark, Spain and Croatia. My money is on France. Denmark will be the biggest challenger for France to beat.

You can follow the championship here

2012-01-09
The Quality of Growth
Africa has had a great start to the 21st century—at least that’s what the numbers show. Year after year the region has racked up solid economic growth, even when the global economy was anything but sound.

Low-income countries have done particularly well. Not only have average per capita incomes mounted steadily, but inflation has generally been tamed, debt pruned, and opportunities for foreign trade and investment opened up. Antoinette Sayeh is Director of the IMF’s African Department discusses how higher economic growth rates in Africa can translate into jobs and investment that will bring long-term benefits for poor households, visiting South Africa this week.
Read more

2012-01-09
On my way to Brussels
Going to Brussels, the European city that never sleeps. I will have a number of important meetings today and tomorrow.

2012-01-09
From the sky down
Last week I saw From the Sky Down on television. "From the sky down" is a brilliant 2011 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about the rock band U2 and the production of their 1991 album Achtung Baby.

The film documents the album's difficult recording period, the band members' relationships, and the group's creative process. Guggenheim, who was commissioned by U2 to create the film to commemorate Achtung Baby's 20th anniversary, spent several months in 2011 developing the documentary. Archival footage and stills from the recording sessions appear in From the Sky Down, along with unreleased scenes from the group's 1988 motion picture Rattle and Hum. For the documentary, the band were filmed during a return visit to Hansa Studios in Berlin where the album was partly recorded, and during rehearsals in Winnipeg for the Glastonbury Festival 2011. The film premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film festival on September 8, 2011, the first time in the festival's history that a documentary was screened as the opening film. The following month, it was broadcast on television and commercially released in the 20th anniversary reissue of Achtung Baby.

2012-01-09
Our new man in the WCO Secretariat
Today our new technical attaché, Mr. Mats Wicktor, starts his service in the Capacity Building Directorate of the WCO Secretariat. Mats will be our third Swedish technical attaché in the Capacity Building Directorate after Christopher Kristensson and Anders Hellberg.

Mats Wicktor is a long service customs officer and manager with an outstanding career within Swedish Customs and the Swedish public sector. He has held several top management positions within Swedish Customs, including being my deputy for several years, and has been a participant of the management board. Mats is also very experienced international officer. He has been working internationally for a decade and has held several international positions, visiting a large number of countries. He is a well known speaker and chair at international conferences around the world. Mats is also well known in the WCO. He was the chairman of the Permanent Technical Committee for several years and has also been chairperson of the Information Management Sub-Committee. Mats is also Vice President of CEFACT, the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation. I am convinced that Mats will do a very good job in the WCO Secretariat adn that he will contribute treamendously to the work of the Capacity Building Directorate with his huge international capacity building and trade facilitation experience. I wish him the best of luck.

2012-01-08
Tevez on the way to Milan
The rumours are getting stronger and stronger. Argentine international soccer top scorer Carlos Tevez, that is in conflict with his present club Manchester City, is on the way to Milan in Italy. If this deal goes through, then Milan will really challenge the top clubs in spain agfain for titles the coming years. With Tevez and Ibrahimovic up front Milan will be very dangerous. No other team in the world can manage to match that goal scoring strength. We will see when the Silly Season is over and the transfer season closes at end of January.

2012-01-08
Mongolia, rural living improve
About 1.7 million rural residents receive microloans, internet service, according to the World Bank. The project, launched in 2008, has benefited a total of 1,763,432 people and 505,745 households: over 50 percent of the beneficiaries were women; 16 percent were below the poverty line and 19 percent were herders. Mongolia’s economy has grown rapidly due to the growth of the commodities sector.

2012-01-08
David Bowie turns 65!
Ziggy Stardust is now playing in a elderly home. Only joking. Congratulations one of the greatest in Rock´n Roll history, Mr. David Bowie (or really David Jones) who celebrates his 65th birthday today.

Bowie is a great song writer and performer with numerous hit albums like: Let´s Dance, Ziggy Stardust (and the spiders from Mars), Space oddity, Scary Monsters, Herpes and Hunky dory. British newspaper The Independent notes that some of rock's men will retire this year - if they want. David Bowie, Elton John, Ronnie Wood and Iggy Pop is fact, some who reaches 65.

2012-01-08
Shenshen - Chinas Silicon Valley
31-year-old engineer Zhong Jian Wei is one of over ten million Chinese who transformed Shenzhen from a small fishing village to become a hub for IT industry.

After studies at the University of Wuhan in central China Zhong Jian Wei moved to Shenzhen 2004th For three years now, he is one of the 33 000 employees as the telecom giant Huawei has been in the city. "I wanted to come here or to Shanghai or Beijing when I was finished with my studies. Shenzhen is a modern city with good weather and good fellow," said Zhong Jian Wei. Zhong Jian Wei has studied in a total of seven years, first a degree in mechanical engineering and then a doctoral degree in programming. First time in Shenzhen, he shared an apartment with a classmate from Wuhan, then he moved to their own homes. He now lives with his wife, a teacher, in a house of 90 square meters with 35 minute travel time to work by bus. "We may have children next year", he says. He works five days a week, 40 hours, and may himself in part control the hours distributed between days. "It is not so common with flexible hours", said Zhong Jian Wei. In his spare time he goes occasionally to the cinema or a restaurant with his wife and friends, or so he sports, especially football and basketball. "I play with my colleagues. Within the company there are many clubs for different sports and, for example, for photography and rock climbing". The fixed starting salary for a civil engineer at Huawei are currently about 6000 yuan, more than 6300 dollars. In addition there will be variable pay and stock in the company. Huawei owns 98 percent of the approximately 60 000 employees (in total the company has 110,000 employees). This story was covered in an article in the Swedish newspaper DN today.

2012-01-07
China push to put astronaut on the moon
China has declared its intention to land an astronaut on the moon, in the first official confirmation of its aim to go where Americans last set foot nearly 40 years ago.

While Chinese scientists have previously discussed the possibility of a manned lunar mission, a government paper published last week is the first public government document to enshrine it as a policy goal. China will “conduct studies on the preliminary plan for a human lunar landing”, the paper said according to FT. Although a manned moon mission is still some time off – Chinese experts say after 2020 – the statement highlights Beijing’s soaring ambitions just five months after the US retired space shuttle programme. “Chinese people are the same as people around the world,” Zhang Wei, an official with China’s National Space Administration, said at a briefing. “When looking up at the starry sky, we are full of longing and yearning for the vast universe.” According to the white paper, which serves as a blueprint for the next five years, China will develop new satellites, accelerate efforts to build a space station and strengthen its research in space. Laying the foundation for a mission to the moon, the government also plans to launch unmanned lunar probes and make “new technological breakthroughs” in human space flights by 2016. The last time an astronaut set foot on the moon was in December 1972 as part of the US Apollo 17 mission.

2012-01-07
Development Banks Agree New Partnership for Climate Action in Cities
Five Multilateral Development Banks, who are lending some $8.4 billion annually for climate action in cities, agreed today on a new partnership to combat global warming. With the overall aim to better coordinate and deepen support to cities in adapting to and mitigating climate change, the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank have agreed to work more closely to develop common tools and metrics for cities. The five MDBs said they would develop a common approach for cities to assess climate risk, standardize greenhouse gas emissions inventories, and encourage a consistent suite of climate finance options.

2012-01-07
Ibra scores another amazing goal
Milan is in Dubai for winter build-up practice before the Serie A starts this weekend. On the Wednesday training Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored an (another) absolutely amazing goal on training.
See it here

2012-01-06
Sweden at Renewable Energy Exhibition in Wuxi
From 3-5 November 2011 Sweden took part in the 3rd China Renewable Energy Exhibition in Wuxi.

The pavilion was arranged by the Consulate General in Shanghai and the Swedish Trade Council with the support from the Sino-Swedish Environmental Technology Cooperation. It hosted companies Envac, Diab, SKF, Sweco, Green Fortune and Invest in Skåne. Consul-General Bengt Johansson gave a speech on renewable energy in Sweden at a seminar which attracted specialists on solar energy from China, US and Germany and other countries. The Environmental Industry is huge in Sweden and Sweden is ranked as one of the leading countries in the world of this sector.

2012-01-06
We are the champions!
Swedish U20 National team in icehockey, Three Crowns, won the final against Russia last night 1-0 in extra time.

That means that Sweden is World Champions ! Having won all games and beating Russia two times in the tournament (in Canada - the mother of all icehockey - of all places) makes sweden the best team winning the title very well deserved.The team will be welcomed by Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel when arriving to Stockholm today (what happened to Finland, Juha? They were beaten by Sweden).

2012-01-05
Denmark holds the presidency of the EU
From January 1st, our closest friends (and brothers) in the world, Denmark (together with Finland, Iceland and Norway), holds the precidency of the European Union.


Here is the link to the Danish Presidency

2012-01-04
The largest anti-corruption initiative ever will be lead from Sweden
This year, the corruption in Europe will be examined in the biggest anti-corruption research effort that has ever been initiated in the world. It is the Swedish QoG-institute at the University of Gothenburg who will lead the largest social science project funded by the EU.

It is a very big project that will involve a large number of aspects of corruption. The overall objective of the European Commission is funding, is so clear that it can help to reduce corruption in the EU and EU member states, says Andreas Bågenholm, doctor of political science and who will be project manager and work with the research leader Professor Bo Rothstein. The project is called Anticorrp - and it is QoG Institute, the Quality of Government, University of Gothenburg, which will be research hub. Upp to 60 scientists from 21 different institutions from 16 countries to highlight corruption historically and how it looks today in a number of areas, and be able to come up with recommendations for a policy. We are the largest institution which is engaged in corruption in Europe so it was quite logical that we take care of this administratively. The project comprises a total of over EUR 10 million. The research project will be conducted interdisciplinary where a number of different institutions will be involved. When you look globally as there are of course bribes in major sectors of society, health care, the need to bribe their doctor or their teachers. On another level in terms of customs officers and traffic police. In Sweden lost no bribery at all like a corruption problem, but it has been more active and favors in connection with contracts which have been the big problem. There is hardly any Swedes who say they have paid a bribe at some point, while there is a fairly common phenomenon in southern European countries like Romania and Bulgaria for example. Swedish EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström has written that there is information that corruption in Europe would represent as much as the entire EU budget. During a very long time so we saw corruption as a Third World problem and that there was something that existed in democratic countries. In the past 20 years have begun to realize that corruption is a serious problem in Gaska much of the western world also. There are a few countries that are relatively spared from corruption. And they have also begun to realize the magnitude of the consequences of corruption in all areas ranging from budget, economy and the impact on health care. While it is very difficult to report exact costs in that it is not an official business, but it's about huge amounts.

2012-01-04
5140 people reading this blog. You are in good company
In December more than 5100 people visited this blog to read news and thoughts about Customs and Trade Capacity Building. So, if you are reading this newsflash, you are in good company.

2012-01-04
Sweden is in the final
The Swedish national icehockey team under19 won their group and yesterday the semifinal of the U19 Icehockey World Cup tournament in Canada yesterday. The team, Three Crowns, beat rivals Finland 4-3 after a penalty shoot out. Sweden dominated the game entirely, winning the shots on goal 55-22, but Finland played smart and had a 2-0 lead before the last 20 minutes period of the game. Sweden scored 1-2 in the beginning of the last period and then made the equilizing 2-2 goal 1.40 minutes before the end. No goal in extra time and a win on penalities 2-1 for a total 4-3 victory. In the final Sweden will play Russia that beat home favourites Canada 6-5 in their semifinal. Sweden has already beaten Russia once in this tournament, but it will be a difficult game. We hope for gold!

2012-01-03
Brunch with friends
This is Janne and Robban. Two of my old friends from Skurup.

Last week I had a catch-up brunch at the classic café Centrum in central Skurup (when in Europe, don´t miss Skurup). A lot of good talks and laughs. Great guys.

2012-01-03
Don´t miss CapacityNow on Twitter
If you like this Capacity Building weblog (Blog) and to read ablut news of this very important sector, then don´t miss the Capacity Building Twitter account "CapacityNow".

You can follow my tweets for free by make a registartion on Twitter.com and then just search for "CapacityNow". You can follow the Twitter account either on the computer or via your mobile phone directly. You will then get updates all through the day.

2012-01-02
Samoa jumped forward in time
The Pacific island nation of Samoa and its even tinier neighbour Tokelau skipped Friday, jumping westward in time across the international date line and into the shifting economic balance of the 21st century.

The time change, officially decided in June, is meant to align Samoa with its Asian trading partners; it moves the islands’ work days further from the United States, which dominated its economy in the past. In this giant-step version of daylight saving time, the island’s 186,000 citizens, and the 1,500 who live in Tokelau, went to sleep on Thursday and woke up on Saturday. The government has decreed that those who missed a day of work on Friday will be paid all the same. Samoa has been out of alignment with its Asian-Pacific neighbours since 1892, when U.S. traders persuaded it to shift from the western side to the eastern side of the international date line to facilitate business with the West Coast of the United States. That earlier shift took place on the U.S. Independence Day – so the Samoans could celebrate July 4 twice. This one takes place at the stroke of midnight, so that two minutes after 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 29, it was 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 31. The new time zone puts Samoa three hours ahead of eastern Australia rather than lagging behind it by 21 hours. Prime Minister Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi acknowledged the new distance from the U.S. orbit but said the move would make it much easier to do business with Australia and New Zealand, whose economies are linked increasingly with the rest of Asia, particularly the region’s superpower, China. “In doing business with New Zealand and Australia, we’re losing out on two working days a week,” Mr. Tuila’epa said. “While it’s Friday here, it’s Saturday in New Zealand, and when we’re at church on Sunday, they’re already conducting business in Sydney and Brisbane.” “Today,” the statement said bluntly, “we do a lot more business with New Zealand and Australia, China and Pacific Rim countries such as Singapore.” Two years ago, Samoa took an earlier step to align itself with Australia and New Zealand, putting drivers on the left side of the road rather than the right. The Prime Minister said the change would make it easier for Samoans in those neighbouring nations to send used cars home to their relatives.

2012-01-02
There is no such thing as luck
My first coach in my junior team always told me, that there is no such thing as luck. He said: "Either you deserve it, or you don't". Here is what I know about lady luck. She likes to hang out with the guy that practice the most.

2012-01-01
Happy New Year
It is 00:01. A new year is here. Great.

2012-01-01
Txt msg (SMS), a part of celebrating a New Year
SMS were sent one across the country, and more than ever, when Sweden celebrated a new year at 00:01 last night.

But next year the number of sent SMS on New Years Eve, that have been increasing the last 10 years, could start to fall. Social media starts namely, take over as the harbinger of a happy new year-greeting. During the New Year is not only the traditional seafood dinner, champagne bubblet the glasses and the fireworks that make a toppdag. Even as regards the number of sent SMS is the New Year on a good day. Now we want to thank each other for years has been, and look ahead to a new year. Last year, beating the largest Swedish telecom operator Telia record in the number of sent SMS and MMS, with over 30 million. But this year, fewer of their customers who grabbed the phone during the celebration of the new year. 28.4 million New Year greetings went up on their network. The last hour until midnight sent most of them: 3.5 million SMS and MMS. Another operator, Three, presents figures for the whole New Year's Eve day until midnight. By then, 13-14 million SMS and MMS messages sent among their customers. The company expects that approximately the same number of messages sent during New Year's Day, as many are waiting until after midnight to send his greetings. These figures can be compared to about nine million SMS messages are sent on a normal day including Tres customers. A third operator, Tele2, counting instead together the entire day on the 31st December, together with the small hours of Christmas Day. Then they calculated this year to 30.7 million sent SMS and MMS. "We are seeing an increased use of social media. Many guard and writes both an SMS and Facebook," says Annika Christensson, Information Officer at Tele2.

2012-01-01
A new year, a new life
Welcome 2012. It will be a better year than 2011, in many ways.

A new year is always a chance to change for the better. We should all do that. I certainly will try to change for the better. Maybe, we could do something to make this world a little bit better.

2012-01-26 Congratulations Customs on International Customs Day

On 26 January every year Customs administrations... »Read more

2012-01-25 Zlatan best in Italy

AC Milan sweden international soccer striker Zlatan... »Read more

2012-01-25 New World Bank Vice President for Africa

The World Bank earlier this month announced the... »Read more

Older

»2012-january »2011-december »2011-november »2011-october »2011-september »2011-august »2011-july »2011-june »2011-may »2011-april »2011-march »2011-february »2011-january »2009-march »2009-february »2009-january »2008-june »2008-may »2008-april »2008-march »2008-february »2008-january »2007-december »2007-november »2007-october »2007-september »2007-august »2007-july »2007-june »2007-may »2007-april »2007-march »2007-february »2007-january »2006-december »2006-november »2006-october »2006-september »2006-august »2006-july »2006-june »2006-may »2006-april »2006-march »2006-february »2006-january »2005-june »2005-may »2005-april »2005-march »2005-february »2005-january