Swedish Businesses Come Together to Shine a Spotlight on Transport and Sustainability

Swedish ferry company Stena Line is celebrating a major milestone with 30 years of service in Dublin. As part of the celebrations Stena Line, in partnership with Business Sweden and the Swedish Embassy in Dublin brought together Swedish business leaders, Irish Government officials as well as trade and investment promotion organisations for a high-level business roundtable.

The event was co-hosted at the Swedish Embassy by the Swedish Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Ms Lina van der Weyden, and the Swedish Trade and Invest Commissioner to Ireland, Gustaf Bergström, at Business Sweden and facilitated by Liam Lacey, Director of the Irish Maritime Development Office. The roundtable provided a platform for strategic dialogue on the future of transport, sustainability, resilience and trade, as well as infrastructure investment and future plans.

Sweden has a long-held connection with Ireland through economic and environmental priorities and in 2024 alone, trade in goods between the two nations totalled an impressive €2.02 billion.

As a vital player in the Irish Sea South corridor, connecting Ireland and the UK, Stena Line has been instrumental in supporting growth and sustainable logistics in the region since 1985, when its first vessel, Stena Traveller, began operating the route. Stena Line also continues to lead in sustainability, with a target to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030.

Stena Line Chief Executive, Niclas Mårtensson said, “This roundtable was a unique opportunity to bring together Swedish and Irish perspectives on the future of transport. We have had a robust and extremely useful discussion; by fostering open dialogue around sustainability, resilience, and innovation, we will strengthen the connections between our two countries, as well as ensuring the sector is prepared for the challenges and opportunities in the future.”

“Our Irish Sea network is extremely important, and we will continue to invest in our ferry services to ensure all our customers experience the highest level of service when travelling with Stena Line.”

The Swedish Ambassador to Ireland, Lina van der Weyden commented, “As we mark nearly a year since the opening of the new Swedish Embassy in Dublin, it is inspiring to witness the deepening ties between Sweden and Ireland. Today’s roundtable not only highlighted our shared commitment to innovation and green transition, but also explored new avenues for cooperation. I am proud that the Embassy can serve as a hub for Swedish companies like Stena Line, whose pioneering work continues to set a high standard for the future of sustainable transport, as we celebrate 30 years of Stena Line’s service between Dublin and Holyhead.”

The Swedish Trade and Invest Commissioner to Ireland, Gustaf Bergström said, “Trade, including via maritime links, is essential for both Sweden and Ireland. With exports accounting for nearly 50% of Swedish GDP in 2023, large Swedish companies – many present at today’s roundtable – are key players in driving this development.  Business Sweden, in close collaboration with the Swedish Embassy, are delighted to support Stena Line by facilitating this strategic dialogue between Swedish and Irish companies and key stakeholders.”

Johan Edelman, Stena Line Irish Sea South Trade Director added, “Celebrating 30 years of sailing on the Irish Sea is a proud milestone for Stena Line. Bringing together our Swedish and Irish connections to discuss the future was the perfect way to mark the occasion.”

“The discussions were energising, and I’m excited to continue building on this momentum as we continue to strengthen our commitment to the Irish Sea network.”

The roundtable also featured participation from other prominent Swedish companies with a strong presence in Ireland, including AstraZeneca, Ericsson, Hitachi Energy, Volvo Bus and Volvo Car. Irish government representatives from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Department of Transport key stakeholders from the freight and logistics sectors such as Dublin Port, Rosslare Europort, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland also attended the session.

Liam Lacey, Director of the Maritime Development Office said: “There is a great trade relationship between Ireland and Sweden and one which we hope to continue to strengthen. In 2024, trade between Ireland and Sweden (both imports and exports) amounted to €2.02 billion. Both countries have a common interest in developing the maritime industry with a focus on decarbonisation, digitalisation and alternative fuels. This round table gives us a good opportunity to explore these themes further, to learn from each other and to advance our shared ambitions in developing the maritime industry.”