On April 28, 2026, Umeå hosted the event “Sweden and Poland – Close Ties, Huge Opportunities,” co-organized by Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Business Sweden, Västerbottens Handelskammare, and Swedish-Polish Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together business leaders and experts to discuss the evolving landscape of Swedish–Polish cooperation, with a strong focus on security, resilience, and risk management.

Held in northern Sweden—a region rapidly emerging as a European hub for green industrialization, energy transition, and technological innovation—the event highlighted a clear shift in how Sweden and Poland approach bilateral cooperation. What was once primarily trade-driven is now becoming a more strategic, multidimensional partnership.

The opening remarks, including a speech by H.E. Karolina Ostrzyniewska, Ambassador of Poland to Sweden, underscored the growing importance of these relations in today’s geopolitical and economic context. The agenda combined strategic insights with practical guidance on entering and expanding in the Polish market, including perspectives shared by representatives of PAIH.

A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion: “Key Success Factors for Business Between Sweden and Poland – Lessons Learned from Real Cases.” Among the panelists was Bartosz Pastuszka, CEO of NaviRisk, who shared hands-on experience from cross-border projects.

His contribution emphasized a critical shift in international business:

Today, successful cross-border cooperation is no longer driven solely by market opportunity, but by the ability to effectively manage risk, build transparency, and establish trust between partners.

The discussion reflected a broader trend: international cooperation is increasingly shaped by operational security, regulatory compliance, and organizational resilience. The move from opportunity-driven expansion to risk-aware collaboration is becoming a defining feature of doing business in Europe.

The regional context also played a significant role. Northern Sweden is currently undergoing one of the most profound industrial transformations in Europe, driven by investments in green energy, battery production, hydrogen technologies, and large-scale electrification. This creates substantial opportunities for Polish companies in areas such as advanced manufacturing, energy, and R&D collaboration.

A key takeaway from the event is that Swedish–Polish relations are evolving into a mature strategic partnership based on mutual learning. Poland brings strong growth dynamics, scalability, and adaptability, while Sweden contributes deep experience in governance, compliance, and building secure business environments.

For NaviRisk, participation in this event was an opportunity not only to share practical insights from international projects but also to reaffirm the growing importance of risk management, due diligence, and operational security in cross-border expansion.

Events like this clearly demonstrate that the future of international cooperation in Europe will not be defined solely by capital and technology—but by the ability to navigate risk in an increasingly complex and unpredictable environment.