Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
China has significantly reduced planned tariffs on dairy imports from the European Union, lowering rates from as high as 42.7 percent to a final range of 7.4 to 11.7 percent, …
China slashes tariffs on Danish-Swedish dairy giant Arla Read More
Guests from the Nordic community in Bangkok were invited to the opening ceremony of the Nordic Film Festival at the Royal Danish Embassy in Thailand on Thursday night on 12 …
Nordic Film Festival opens at Royal Danish Embassy in Bangkok Read More
Thailand is preparing to roll back one of its most generous entry policies. The government plans to reduce visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of 93 …
Big change for nordic travellers: Thailand plans to cut visa-free stay Read More
Australian Shipbuilder Austal has started building a new high-speed ferry for Sweden’s Gotlandsbolaget at its shipyard in Cebu, Philippines. The vessel is called Horizon X. It is planned to operate …
Swedish ferry project starts in the Philippines Read More
Chinese authorities have filed charges against Leon Wang, who previously led AstraZeneca’s operations in China, Reuters reported. Wang was taken into custody in October 2024 during investigations into the company’s …
Former AstraZeneca China head Leon Wang charged Read More
Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and its missions provided consular services to about 245,000 Finnish people in 2025, the ministry annouces in a press release. The ministry’s 24/7 service was …
Finnish foreign ministry releases 2025 report Read More
Craft Sportswear has opened its first flagship store in China, establishing a permanent retail presence in Shanghai, according to International Services Shanghai. The Swedish endurance sports brand opened the store …
Swedish sportswear brand Craft opens first flagship store in China Read More
Sweden’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Johan Ndisi, and a delegation from SYRE met Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on 6 February. The Swedish Embassy in Hanoi said the talks focused on …
Swedish Ambassador meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Read More
Thailand has dropped nine places to 116th in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with its score declining slightly from 34 in 2024 to 33 out of 100 in 2025, …
Thailand slips further behind Nordic countries in corruption ranking Read More
Sweden and the Philippines have signed a grant agreement to help develop national standards for buses used in public transport in the Philippines, according to Manila Bulletin. The agreement involves …
Sweden and the Philippines sign grant agreement on bus standards Read More
Sweden will introduce stricter requirements for people applying for Swedish citizenship, including a longer residency period, income thresholds, and language and culture tests, according to Reuters. The changes will be …
Sweden tightens citizenship requirements Read More
Thailand’s healthcare system is under growing pressure, and the issue is now appearing more clearly on the bilateral agenda between Thailand and Sweden. This was reflected last week, when the …
An ageing society is reshaping Thailand’s healthcare priorities Read More
The Swedish Institute has opened applications for its SI Scholarship for Global Professionals for master’s studies in Sweden. The application window runs until 25 February 2026. The scholarship covers one- …
Swedish Institute opens master’s scholarship for applicants from international students Read More
In Nordic democracies, election night usually brings clarity. Votes are counted, winners are declared, and within hours the political direction is clear. In Thailand, the first morning after an election …
Thailand heads for coalition talks after election Read More
Ambassadors from Finland and Sweden were among diplomats from more than 20 countries who recently visited Catanduanes, an island province in the eastern Philippines, as part of an effort to …
Nordic ambassadors discover hidden Philippine island in rare diplomatic visit Read More
On Thursday 6 February, Vietnam–Sweden Uong Bi Hospital in Quang Ninh province, which was established in the early 1980s with assistance from Sweden, donated 200 Tet (Lunar New Year) gift …
Vietnam–Sweden Uong Bi Hospital donates Tet gifts to patients in Quang Ninh Read More
The Philippines and Sweden signed a grant agreement on 5 February to develop national bus standards. Swedfund will fund technical and performance standards for public utility buses, including minibuses. The …
Philippines and Sweden sign grant to raise national bus standards Read More
Thai police have arrested a Swedish man in Phuket in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a Swedish woman, following a report filed earlier this week, Thaiger reports. The …
Swedish man arrested in Phuket over alleged sexual assault Read More
Nordic Film Festival will take place again next week in Thailand, according to the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The festival has been held in previous years and …
Nordic Film Festival in Bangkok returns Read More
As questions linger over the situation along the Thailand-Cambodia border, Thai authorities have moved to reassure European partners – including Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway – about safety conditions in …
Border concerns lead to review of Nordic travel advisories Read More
Two IKEA Malaysia co-workers, Fatin Badrul Hisham and Nurul Fatihah Binti Rosli, won the global IKEA Talents food contest on 4 February. They took the title with a stuffed fried …
IKEA Malaysia duo wins global IKEA Talents food contest in Sweden Read More
Sweden is using the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) to highlight the legacy of Pippi Longstocking and promote Swedish children’s literature to Taiwanese readers. The Swedish booth previously marked Pippi …
Pippi Longstocking in Taipei Read More
Alcohol sales were banned nationwide in Thailand last weekend in connection with the parliamentary election. This weekend, the same restrictions will once again be in force, according to the Royal …
Alcohol ban returns this weekend ahead of Thailand election Read More
Taiwan will step up technology cooperation with Sweden in semiconductors, quantum technology, AI, drones and robotics. The plan was outlined at a bilateral research workshop in Yilan on 30 January. …
Taiwan and Sweden expand joint research in chips, AI and drones Read More
The Vietnam–Sweden Health Partnership Forum was held in Stockholm in late January, co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and Karolinska Institutet. The event brought together government, research and healthcare representatives to …
Vietnam and Sweden mark 50 years of health research ties at Stockholm forum Read More
The Vietnamese Embassy in Sweden hosted a large cultural gathering in Malmö on February 1st, using the event to strengthen ties between Sweden and Vietnam and to highlight the role …
Vietnam uses culture to strengthen ties with Sweden Read More
Pasig City inaugurated its Innovation for Circular Economy hub on 26 January 2026. The hub targets waste recovery, recycling, and green jobs. Mayor Vico Sotto led the opening with local …
Nordic envoys join launch of Pasig City circular economy hub in the Philippines Read More
The Republic of Singapore Air Force has selected the Swedish-made Saab Giraffe 1X radar to replace its existing Portable Search and Target Acquisition Radar (PSTAR). RSAF chief Maj. Gen. Kelvin …
Singapore selects Sweden’s Saab Giraffe 1X radar for low-level air defence Read More
A group of eight parliamentarians from seven European countries arrived in Taiwan on 1 February for a six-day visit, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. The delegation includes lawmakers from Lithuania, …
Parliamentarians from seven European countries begin six-day Taiwan visit Read More
Police in Patong, Phuket, Thailand are investigating an alleged sexual assault report by a 26-year-old tourist from Sweden, local media reports. Police said the woman filed a complaint around 6pm …
Patong police investigate rape report by Swedish tourist Read More
Finland is considering restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms, drawing inspiration from Australia’s recently introduced ban, as concerns grow over the impact of digital platforms on young people. …
Finland looks to Australia as debate grows over banning children from social media Read More
Vietnam values its long-standing friendship with Sweden and welcomes increased Swedish investment, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during a meeting in Hanoi with Sweden’s Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi …
Vietnam welcomes planned Swedish circular textile investment Read More
Norwegian and Swedish recycling technology companies will play a central role in Singapore’s new nationwide Beverage Container Return Scheme, which launches on 1 April and is expected to handle more …
Nordic recycling technology powers Singapore’s bottle return system Read More
A Sweden-based non-profit organisation has urged the European Union to impose travel bans and asset freezes on 14 Hong Kong government and Hong Kong Police Force representatives over alleged human …
Sweden-based NGO urges EU sanctions against Hong Kong officials over protest abuses Read More
Former Philippine lawmaker Zaldy Co is facing an arrest warrant in the Philippines in connection with alleged graft and malversation tied to a 289 million peso flood-control project in Naujan, …
Wanted filipino ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co “found” in Sweden Read More
The Thailand and Nordic countries Innovation Unit (TNIU) is a relatively new Thai embassy-based initiative that aims to strengthen cooperation in areas such as innovation, sustainability and green transition between …
A Nordic-Thai innovation unit is exploring new possibilities of embassy cooperation Read More
A 67-year-old Swedish tourist has died after being hit by a car while crossing a road near Phuket International Airport on 22 January. Police said the man and his Swedish …
Swedish tourist killed in road crash near Phuket Airport Read More
Hong Kong has used a series of Year of the Horse receptions in Sweden and Norway to highlight new trade and investment opportunities between the Nordic region and Asia. The …
Hong Kong uses Year of the Horse events to promote trade ties with Sweden and Norway Read More
As we get older, it seems like time goes faster and faster, but today, you will also hear lots of young people talking about how time flies. I can’t remember …
A new year and new challenges! Read More
Indonesia and Vietnam have confirmed that they will accept an invitation from United States President Donald Trump to join his newly established Board of Peace, a move that has sparked …
Indonesia, Vietnam accepts invitation to Trump’s Board of Peace – Nordic countries decline Read More
Singapore-based offshore engineering group Seatrium and Norwegian contractor Aibel have both filed arbitration proceedings over disputes related to their consortium agreement for the DolWin 5 offshore converter platform in the …
Seatrium and Aibel enter arbitration over North Sea offshore wind platform Read More
Cobra Gold is an annual Thai–US-led multinational military exercise held in Thailand since 1982. It trains interoperability and includes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief elements. Thailand and the United States …
Sweden joins Thailand’ Cobra Gold 2026 as observer Read More
It is just before 1 pm at CentralWorld, one of Bangkok’s most visited shopping malls, and the crowds are already flowing steadily past the new pink storefront. Inside, brightly coloured …
How MUMS is turning Swedish sweets into a Bangkok business Read More
Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce (SweCham) will host a young professionals networking event in Bangkok next month focusing on Sweden’s global influence in the music industry. The event will feature a …
Swedish music and AI in focus at Bangkok networking event Read More
Poor soundproofing is the biggest irritation for Swedish travellers staying at hotels abroad, according to a new survey commissioned by TUI. The survey, conducted by Kantar Media, shows that 39 …
Swedes more annoyed by noisy hotel rooms than sunbed hogging Read More
The Chinese Embassy in Sweden said it opposed what it called “unfounded accusations” made by a small number of Swedish politicians about Chinese products and trade measures, and urged “two-way …
Chinese embassy in Stockholm rejects accusations by Swedish politician Read More
Thai authorities have rejected claims circulating online that foreign nationals will be limited to entering Thailand visa-free only twice a year. The warning was issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Digital …
Thai authorities deny rumours limiting visa-free entry for foreigners Read More
Swedish defence group Saab will exhibit at Singapore Airshow 2026 at Changi Exhibition Centre from 3 to 8 February. In a press release, the company said it will be at …
Saab plans to showcase Gripen E and C-UAS at Singapore Airshow Read More
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau said it arrested a Swedish man wanted under an Interpol Red Notice on drug charges, local Thai media reports. Police said the suspect had been hiding in …
Swedish drug suspect arrested in Hua Hin Read More
Several Southeast Asian countries have eased visa rules over the past year, helping drive a strong rebound in international tourism and making travel in the region simpler for foreign visitors. …
Visa-free entry expands across Southeast Asia Read More