London,
13
April
2016
|
14:38
Europe/London

Lord Mayor of the City of London visits Scandinavia to promote financial services ties

The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Jeffrey Mountevans is this month to visit Norway (14-17), Sweden (17-19) and Finland (19-20), looking to build closer financial ties between the Scandinavian countries and the UK’s financial and professional services sector.

The Lord Mayor, an ambassador and spokesperson for the UK’s City – also known as the Square Mile – will meet with a variety of government ministers, central bankers and senior business across the three countries.

The Lord Mayor, who holds the office for one year, has strong Scandinavian links, having been born in Gothenburg and possessing strong family connections to Norway. A shipbroker with the leading international firm Clarksons, he has also visited Norway, Sweden and Finland extensively over the last 40 years.

Speaking about the opportunities for collaboration, Lord Mayor Jeffrey Mountevans said:

“I am delighted to return to Scandinavia as Lord Mayor. The visit is an excellent opportunity to build on the close economic links that our countries share. The Scandinavian nations have always been incredibly good at encouraging innovation and sustainability in their economies – something that we in the City want to encourage here too.

“My visit will be about sharing knowledge, particularly in the areas of maritime and financial and professional services, and building these relationships which will help foster more commercial opportunities for the future. I am incredibly excited about my return visit to Sweden, Norway and Finland.”

The Lord Mayor’s programme will see him:

Norway

  • Meeting with State Secretary Mr Tore Vamraak (Ministry of Finance) and State Secretary Mr Amund Ringdal, Ministry of Transport and Communications
  • Attending a maritime themed working lunch - Demonstrate the importance of London as marketplace for insurance and reinsurance
  • Visiting the Norwegian Business School
  • Meeting with Idar Kreutzer, Managing Director of FNO (Finance Norway
  • Attending a senior business leaders dinner

Sweden

  • Meeting with Gothenburg Governor Lars Bäckström and Mayor Lena Malm
  • Gothenburg Harbour Trip with lunch discussing maritime industry and sustainability
  • Touring the Volvo Bus Corporation facility
  • Attending a Green Finance Roundtable with Gothenburg City
  • Attending a senior business leaders dinner

Finland

  • Attending a lunch event hosted by the Finnish British Trade Association discussing the UK’s financial and professional services sector.
  • Giving the keynote speech at the Aalto Start-up Centre on UK/Finnish FinTech collaboration
  • Opening address at the 12th Annual Arctic Shipping Forum on UK maritime expertise
  • Meeting with Christoffer Nordström, CEO of Megaklinikka
  • Attending a senior business leaders dinner

Notes to the Editor

  • The Lord Mayor is head of the City of London authority for one year and the position is unpaid and apolitical. It is an exceptionally demanding role. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad and addresses some 10,000 people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year).
  • The Lord Mayor represents City businesses and helps the City Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City; and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister.
  • The Lord Mayor meets several international Heads of Government and Business each month to discuss financial services, often in conjunction with senior City business representatives. The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House for the Mayoral year.

Notes to the Editor

  • The Lord Mayor is head of the City of London authority for one year and the position is unpaid and apolitical. It is an exceptionally demanding role. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad and addresses some 10,000 people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year).
  • The Lord Mayor represents City businesses and helps the City Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City; and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister.
  • The Lord Mayor meets several international Heads of Government and Business each month to discuss financial services, often in conjunction with senior City business representatives. The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House for the Mayoral year.