Taiwan-Sweden Economic Dialogue Focuses on AI, Energy, and Smart Healthcare Exchange

TAIPEI, May 21 (CNA) – The 2026 Taiwan-Sweden Economic Dialogue Meeting was held today, with both sides focusing on issues such as AI, energy policy and green transition, 6G and next-generation communications, and smart healthcare. Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Wen-joan Chiang stated that Sweden is a key driver in the global wireless communications industry, while Taiwan has a manufacturing advantage in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. She noted the high degree of complementarity between Taiwanese and Swedish industries and expressed hope for continued deepening of industrial and technical cooperation and the establishment of a trusted partnership. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) noted in a press release today that Chiang co-chaired the meeting with Diana Janse, Sweden's State Secretary for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. Chiang remarked that Sweden is an important economic and trade partner for Taiwan, with bilateral trade volume growing by 41% over the past decade. She added that Swedish companies such as Ericsson, Scania, IKEA, and AstraZeneca have long been established in Taiwan, building deep and long-term cooperative relationships with Taiwanese industries. Janse affirmed Taiwan's leading position in the global semiconductor industry and the resilience of its economy amidst the pandemic and geopolitical challenges. She also shared Sweden's views on the current international political and economic situation, economic security, and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Janse stated that in the face of global economic changes, Sweden is considering how to help its businesses reduce uncertainty and reiterated Sweden's support for free trade, expressing hope for the restoration of the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism. The MOEA pointed out that this year, businesses from both sides primarily exchanged opportunities for cooperation in AI infrastructure and smart healthcare, with enthusiastic interaction. Future collaboration will continue to be expanded through the platform of the Joint Business Council (JBC) between Taiwan and Sweden. The MOEA stated that Sweden is Taiwan's second-largest trading partner and source of foreign investment in the Nordic region. Last year, the total bilateral trade amounted to US$1.48839 billion. As of April this year, Sweden's cumulative investment in Taiwan reached US$668 million. (By Tseng Yun-ting; edited by Pan I-ching)