| Sweden is very much oriented towards overseas | | | | target of 2%. According to the Economic Survey of |
| trade. It has an up to date logistics and freight | | | | Sweden 2007 by the OECD, the average inflation in |
| shipping infrastructure and excellent inland and | | | | Sweden has been one of the lowest among |
| international communications. Particularly well endowed | | | | European countries since the mid-1990s. Most |
| with natural resources, Sweden's iron ore, timber and | | | | international trade takes place with Germany, the |
| hydropower are mainstays of the national economy, | | | | United States of America, Norway, the United |
| which is highly geared towards export. Sweden's | | | | Kingdom, Denmark, and Finland. |
| engineering sector alone accounts for 50% of all | | | | Freight transport links and the provision of freight |
| production and exports. | | | | services is particularly well developed and the |
| Telecommunications, the car production industry and | | | | markets are competitive for international freight |
| pharmaceuticals are also extremely important to the | | | | between these countries, ensuring that customers |
| national economy and account for a significant | | | | are well catered for. Any shipping company or freight |
| amount of all exports being transported by shipping | | | | forwarder servicing these routes needs to ensure |
| companies out of Sweden. The largest Swedish | | | | that their freight services are completely streamlined |
| companies include Volvo, Ericsson, Vattenfall, | | | | and competitive. As well as external communications |
| Skanska, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, | | | | and international freight transport routes, internal |
| Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Electrolux and Volvo | | | | communications are also efficient.The impressive |
| Personvagnar. Many of these enterprises have brands | | | | Oresund Bridge connects Malmoe in Sweden and |
| that are famous worldwide. Sweden's industrial | | | | Copenhagen in Denmark. Sweden has nearly 163,000 |
| companies are mostly in private control. | | | | km of paved road and nearly 1500 km of |
| The private sector is vigorous and growing, aided by | | | | expressways. There are extensive motorway |
| a highly educated and productive workforce. The | | | | arteries running throughout Sweden, Denmark and |
| private sector encompasses many freight services | | | | over the Oresund Bridge to Stockholm, Gothenburg, |
| and international transport specialists which have | | | | Uppsala and Uddevalla. The network of motorways is |
| thrived on the back of the successful and growing | | | | still under construction, with a new motorway from |
| economy. The country saw real GDP growth over | | | | Uppsala to Gaevle having been finished in October |
| the last decade until 2009, when the unfavourable | | | | 2007. |
| global economy helped force the country into | | | | The rail transport market is privatized, but while there |
| recession. GDP per hour worked is the world's 9th | | | | are many privately owned businesses, many |
| highest at 31 US dollars in 2006, compared to only 22 | | | | operators are still owned by state or municipalities. |
| US dollars in Spain, for example. OECD say | | | | The most significant rail operators include SJ, Veolia |
| deregulation, globalization, and growth in the | | | | Transport, Connex Group, Green Cargo, |
| technology industry have been key drivers of | | | | Taagkompaniet, Inlandsbanan, and a number of |
| productivity in Sweden. GDP per hour worked is | | | | regional businesses. Most of the railways are owned |
| growing by approximately 2 per cent a year for the | | | | and operated by Banverket. Rail freight works |
| economy as a whole. This very positive situation has | | | | efficiently and is a competitive option that is |
| created the conditions on which the international | | | | recommended by many a freight forwarder and |
| forwarding sector has been confident to invest in the | | | | shipping company. Communication links by air are also |
| future. | | | | excellent in Sweden, meaning that freight forwarding |
| The World Economic Forum 2009-2010 | | | | is simply never a problem. The largest airports include |
| Competitiveness Index ranks Sweden the 4th most | | | | Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, which carried a staggering |
| competitive economy in the world. Similarly, Sweden | | | | 18 million passengers in 2007, 40 km north of |
| is ranked 9th in the IMD Competitiveness Yearbook | | | | Stockholm, Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport and |
| 2008, scoring high in private sector efficiency. This | | | | Stockholm-Skavsta Airport. Sweden is also home to |
| culture of success has spawned innovation and | | | | the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, Port |
| development in freight shipping and freight services | | | | of Goeteborg AB (Gothenburg) and the transnational |
| as well as other sectors. The Swedes have rejected | | | | company Copenhagen Malmoe Port AB. In summary |
| the euro in a referendum so Sweden has kept its | | | | then, Sweden has a modern, competititive economy |
| own currency, the Swedish krona (SEK). The | | | | with high productivity and a great transport |
| Swedish Riksbank which was founded in 1668 and is | | | | infrastructure, making the country an attractive |
| therefore the oldest central bank in the world, is | | | | market for potential importers. |
| currently focusing on price stability with its inflation | | | | |