Strengthening Irish–Swedish Trade and Energy Collaboration
A knowledgeable and experienced moderator is key for a successful seminar. As part of the Irish Trade Mission to Sweden, led by Enterprise Ireland, Sigholm’s Arne Bergvik was entrusted with moderating the lunchtime seminar "From Coast to Grid - Irish Solutions for Swedish Renewables". With a long energy sector background, extensive seminar experience, and dedicated preparation, Arne played an important role in achieving the seminar’s purpose.
Trade between Sweden and Ireland is growing, with Enterprise Ireland's client exports reaching €1 billion for the first time in 2024. Both countries also stand at similar crossroads in the energy transition, particularly within offshore wind. Ireland has set ambitious targets to expand offshore wind power generation by at least 37 GW by 2050 - six times the country's current peak electricity demand. These targets are expected to strengthen Ireland’s position in exporting products and services related to offshore wind energy.
Another core pillar of the strategy is to build a competitive edge in the technology and know-how for the sector. To support Irish exporters and deepen business ties between Ireland, Sweden, and the broader Nordic region, 50 Enterprise Ireland client companies participated in a trade mission to Sweden in September 2025.
Sharing Insights and Challenges
As part of the program, the lunchtime seminar "From Coast to Grid - Irish Solutions for Swedish Renewables" gathered 60 participants from both countries to share experiences and discuss common challenges. During a panel session, representatives from the Swedish transmission system operator Svenska Kraftnät, its Irish equivalent Eirgrid and the pre-construction and digital construction service provider Strata offered insights and best practices to the audience.
Sigholm’s Arne Bergvik supported the panelist both in the preparatory work and on stage, helping to highlight the key takeaways identified beforehand. The panelists noted the many similarities, as well as a few differences, between the two countries as they navigate the energy transition. For many participants, the seminar summarized valuable insights that can accelerate the transition and help bring the countries’ business communities even closer together.
