Sweden 2019: A meeting of minds

Export-oriented and digitally focused, Ireland and Sweden have much in common, as Ireland’s ambassador to Sweden Dympna Hayes explains

Dympna Hayes, Ireland’s ambassador in Stockholm Pic: Jens Olof Lasthein

Ireland’s ambassador to Sweden, Dympna Hayes, has seen much change since her first overseas posting to Stockholm. After leaving in 1991, she is now back in the Swedish capital midway through her tenure as Ireland’s 19th ambassador there. If you had asked her 30 years ago, before Sweden joining the EU, what our economies had in common, an orientation towards foreign trade would have been the short reply.

Trade liberalisation

“Now, over two ...