Interview with Ambassador Johanna Brismar Skoog

Johanna Brismar Skoog is the Swedish Ambassador in Jakarta, Indonesia, and along with the Swedish Embassy in Jakarta she has a central role in planning and carrying out the state visit.

What is the Swedish-Indonesian relationship like?

"Sweden and Indonesia have an excellent relationship, based on mutual respect and curiosity. In the past twenty years, Indonesia has undergone a thorough reformation process and has evolved into one of the more dynamic democracies in the region. The Indonesians increasingly consume, vacation and study abroad, and more and more Indonesians are discovering Swedish services and products, as well as Sweden as a destination. There is great interest in Swedish fashion, music and design, but also in matters of sustainability, equality and innovation. Swedish fashion brands are often seen out and about, Swedish crime fiction is just as popular here and Zara Larsson can be heard on the radio. There is also a growing interest in Indonesia among Swedes. It is the fourth most populous country in the world, has a stable annual growth of more than five per cent, and a rapidly growing middle class. More than 33,000 Swedes visited Indonesia last year, an increase of almost 20 per cent compared to the previous year. Most travel to Bali, but other destinations are also attracting visitors. Swedish companies are also seeing great potential in Indonesia. More than 80 companies already have a presence in the country, and several major multinational companies have been here for a long time. We see a growing interest from a number of actors."

What issues do Indonesia and Sweden share an interest in?

"Many of the major development issues are of great importance to Sweden and Indonesia both, and the Sustainable Development Goals apply to us all. Climate change, ocean pollution, how to create smart and sustainable cities for a growing urban population, the opportunities of digitalisation, but sadly also terrorism, radicalism, extremism and how to best protect our democratic values.

Indonesia and Sweden are strong proponents of international cooperation and are committed to working with the UN. Sweden and Indonesia are both designated pathfinder countries in the UN Global Partnership to End Violence against Children, and during the visit the Queen will participate in round-table talks with Indonesian decision-makers to share experiences, identify priorities and together inspire the international community to take the next step in this urgent matter."