News brief
Annika Thunborg and her huband Aaron Tovish.
Get to know Annika Thunborg the new Swedish Ambassador to Philippines
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ewly appointed Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines Annika Thunborg talks in a recent interview with Manila Bulletin about the Nordic way of life and how she wishes to continue championing women and their rights throughout her career. Annika Thunborg arrived in the Philippines just two months ago but she has had quite a career in foreign policy. Before coming to the Philippines, she was Sweden’s Ambassador in Mexico for five years and she has also had postings in Geneva, New York, and Vienna. “I felt I was eager to actually work with foreign policy from the inside and also in practice, contribute—at least a little—to making 12 ScandAsia • December 2021
the world a better place,” Annika Thunborg says. “That, I think, is my motivation for working in the foreign service. To really try to contribute and do our best to make the world a little better.” After seeing potential in the Philippines ’ new and emerging market, the Embassy of Sweden reopened in Manila five years ago. “There’s a growing middle class and new opportunities for people,” the Ambassador says while referring to the success of fashion retailer H&M, which now has 40 stores in the country, followed by the world’s biggest IKEA store and call center Transcom. While speaking on the em-
powerment of women, Ambassador Annika Thunborg is a true feminist who wishes to continue championing women and their rights throughout her career. “Sweden has adopted a feminist foreign policy, which aims to achieve parity. Girls and women can enjoy the same rights, representation, and resources as men and boys do,” she says. Read the full inter view with Ambassador Annika Thunborg and much more on the Nordic way of life and Sweden’s presence in the lives of Filipinos here: https:// mb.com.ph/2021/11/27/a-timelyfika-with-swedens-ambassador-annika-thunborg/
