Nordic Ambassadors’ Forum 2025 Highlights How Trust and Transparency Drive Leadership and Collaboration

Bringing together Nordic Ambassadors, business partners, government officials, and private sector leaders, the Nordic Ambassadors’ Forum 2025 organized by NordCham Philippines was held on 13 November 2025 at 8:00 AM at Dusit Thani Manila. The event focused on open dialogue and collaboration to promote trust and transparency in governance, diplomacy, and business.

This year’s Forum carried the theme “Trust and Transparency: Nordic Values in Action,” highlighting how these values guide leadership, strengthen institutions, and build partnerships. Discussions explored how Nordic experiences can inspire practices that promote accountability, inclusiveness, and good governance across sectors, providing valuable lessons for attendees to apply in the Philippine context.

The program featured ambassador-led dialogues, keynote addresses, and private sector panels, giving attendees multiple opportunities to ask questions directly to the Ambassadors and panelists.

Ambassador Highlights:

Amb. Franz-Michael Mellbin, Royal Danish Embassy Manila

Ambassador Mellbin shared how Denmark’s culture of transparency and ethical governance reduces bureaucratic hurdles and strengthens public trust. By institutionalizing clear rules and open access to information, Denmark minimizes corruption and encourages citizen confidence. These principles offer practical lessons for the Philippines in improving public sector accountability and building more efficient, trustworthy institutions.

Amb. Saija Nurminen, Embassy of Finland in Manila

Ambassador Nurminen explored how Finland maintains trust in media and information integrity, emphasizing independent journalism as a cornerstone of informed decision-making and societal resilience. The discussion highlighted approaches to combating misinformation, strengthening communication channels, and ensuring that both citizens and businesses have access to reliable, accurate information, lessons highly relevant to the Philippine media and corporate landscape.

Amb. Christian Halaas Lyster, Royal Norwegian Embassy Manila

Ambassador Lyster examined the role of social trust and community solidarity in Norway, where strong networks and collaboration create stability and foster innovation. The session offered ideas for how Philippine companies and organizations can enhance community engagement, encourage cooperation, and build social capital that supports sustainable development and corporate responsibility initiatives.

Amb. Anna Ferry, Embassy of Sweden in Manila

Ambassador Ferry highlighted how Sweden promotes trust in institutions through participatory governance, citizen involvement, and accountability mechanisms. The presentation showcased ways that governments and businesses can actively engage stakeholders, implement ethical leadership practices, and cultivate collaborative public-private partnerships, offering insights that could strengthen Philippine governance and business environments.

Panel Discussion

Ambassadors Saija Nurminen, Christian Halaas Lyster, and Anna Ferry, Moderated by Axel Fries, Executive Director of NordCham Philippines, the panel explored how Nordic values—transparency, trust, and collaboration shape diplomacy, development, and international cooperation. The discussion connected these lessons to practical strategies for policy-making, business partnerships, and community initiatives in the Philippines.

Keynote Address

Atty. Ernesto V. Perez, Secretary/Director General, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA)

Atty. Perez focused on ARTA’s efforts to streamline public services and shared insights from Nordic governance models that could be applied locally. The keynote emphasized actionable strategies to enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and strengthen service delivery in both government agencies and private organizations.

Private Sector Panel Discussion

The Panel featured Secretary Perez (ARTA), Karsten Reichstein, Managing Director of Aeven Group, Ossi Ylinen, President & Managing Director of Wärtsilä Philippines, Alexander Hatland, COO/GBS Manager of Odfjell Technology Philippines, and Frida Wallin, Country Business Navigation Manager of IKEA, with Axel Fries, Executive Director of NordCham Philippines, as moderator.

Panelists discussed how transparency, ethical business practices, and innovation can drive sustainable growth, build trust with stakeholders, and strengthen the business environment in the Philippines. Attendees engaged in a dynamic Q&A, gaining practical insights that could be applied to enhance corporate governance, improve operational efficiency, and foster stronger collaboration between the Nordic and Philippine business communities.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Axel Fries, followed by the highly anticipated Turkish Airlines raffle draw and a networking session where participants engaged with ambassadors and leaders from various sectors, exchanging ideas and exploring potential collaborations.

NordCham Philippines extends its appreciation to all speakers, panelists, and attendees for their contributions and engagement, which made this year’s Forum a success. We also thank our sponsors and partners for their continued support. The Nordic Ambassadors’ Forum 2025 reinforced NordCham Philippines’ role as a bridge between the Nordic and Philippine business communities, providing attendees with practical insights and strategies for promoting trust, transparency, and responsible leadership.

Event Partners: BDO Unibank, PMFTC, Turkish Airlines

Gold Sponsor: OSM Thome Philippines

Silver Sponsor: Centre Médicale Internationale, Inc. (CMI)