Interview with Magnus Pallin, Chef Advanced Corporate on Swedbank who are one of the Founders of Bünsow Business Growth Forum
What was your vision and goals for the Bünsow Business Growth Forum when you decided to become founders together with Sparbanksstiftelsen?
– Sparbanksstiftelsen Norrland and Swedbank had an idea to create a strong business event in the Sundsvall region. Stig Wiklund (then Chairman of Sparbanksstiftelsen Norrland) and I drove the issue and teamed up with Bengt-Göran Persson, who had been involved in creating Åre Business Forum, and Maria Åslin became the project manager. The goal was to create an arena where decision-makers and other representatives from the business community have the opportunity to exchange experiences and receive various inputs that strengthen the attractiveness of our region from a national perspective.
How do you see the importance of events like the Bünsow Business Growth Forum in promoting growth and development?
– The development of the event has gone faster than we could have hoped for and we already think that we have succeeded in creating a meeting place where interesting and current topics are dealt with. A meeting place where entrepreneurs and decision-makers have found an arena for meetings where new ideas are born and where our region and the whole of northern Sweden get the focus needed for continued positive development.
What do you think about this year’s theme?
– In the geopolitical and security situation we have today, it is very important for our entrepreneurs and the business community in general to really think. Firstly, what your plan is if the worst happens and secondly, what we can do to contribute. We operate in an area where major investments in the defense industry will take place over the next few years. One example is BAE Hägglund’s development in Ö-vik; other examples are the construction of regiments in Östersund and Sollefteå, among others. This development creates great opportunities for the entire region and this year’s Bünsow will be a great arena to discuss how we handle this in the best possible way.
What role does Swedbank play in promoting growth and economic stability in northern Sweden?
– It is our great companies that create growth and helping companies to grow and helping new companies and good ideas to be developed is the most important thing. We want to be part of developing and growing together with our companies and enable them to reach their dreams and goals. A large part of our business advisors’ everyday life consists of having a good dialog with our customers and finding solutions that help to promote our customers’ needs. If we work closely with our clients, we can provide support in both good times and bad, which is a good basis for both growth and stability.
What future prospects does Swedbank see for northern Sweden?
– In the economic assessments we make, we assess that it is in northern Sweden that the greatest growth will take place over the next few years. All the investments made and planned along the entire Norrland coast contribute to both growth and employment figures standing out considerably. This is something we also see among many of our customers, which is very enjoyable.