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EKN's Interim Report January - August 2019. Guarantees for the period amounted to SEK 41.1 billion, which was down slightly on last year's very high level. Guarantees to small and medium-sized companies have continued to increase.

Business activity was high in the first four months of 2019 with EKN issuing more new guarantees and more offers year-on-year. In terms of volumes, guarantees increased 19 per cent and offers 21 per cent. Moreover, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using EKN continued to grow.

Guarantees amounted to SEK 56.8 billion and encompassed 2,082 export transactions to 129 countries. The number of SMEs using EKN is rising.

A company with exports representing at least 25 per cent of its turnover within 2–3 years of its formation – this is a born global company. But how common is the phenomenon – and what societal effects does it yield? New research shows that we should lower the expectations for born global companies.

EKN has decided to downgrade Nicaragua from country risk category 6 to country risk category 7. "The political unrest has affected the economic situation in the country in a very negative way," said André Lundvall, Country Risk Analyst at EKN.

Blockchain is a technology with the potential to revolutionise international trade. We asked Patrik Zekkar, Head of Trade Finance & Working Capital Management at Nordea, to explain how blockchain technology could make the export business simpler and more secure in the future.

Karin Wessman has been appointed to the new position of Director of Sustainability at the Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN). Her previous position was as Sustainability Manager for the agency.

EKN global outlook 2018: All parts of the world are now contributing to growth in the global economy.

Prime Design Sweden is the company behind the revolutionary lighting solution Baselight, which can help save lives in the dark, for example, in the event of a natural disaster. The rapidly growing company recently signed an agreement for a large delivery to India. This is the first such transaction to be conducted with the support of EKN’s and Almi’s new joint financing solution.

For many years, the driving force of Swedish exports has been the physical products exported by Swedish industry. Swedish companies successfully conquered global markets with their high-quality, innovative products. Swedish companies now have fresh opportunities for conquering foreign markets as the export of services gains increasing importance. EKN is now working on new insurance solutions that will give even greater support to exports of services.

Is it still possible to do business with Russia? This is a topical issue for many Swedish companies after a turbulent time for the country. EKN’s experts say yes – and list what the companies ought to consider before exporting to Russia.

Climeon is a cleantech company whose innovation is converting low temperature waste heat or geothermal heat into electricity. Onstage at the Åre Business Forum were Cimeon’s Head of Project Finance, Alexander Helling and the Director General of EKN, Anna-Karin Jatko, to explain the funding solution that made the successful export of Climeon’s leading green technology possible.

It is now being made easier for banks to help innovative companies aiming to enter the export market. At the Åre Business Forum the Director General of EKN, Anna-Karin Jatko, announced a new funding solution which covers 80 per cent of the banks’ risk in the export transactions of innovative small and medium-sized companies.

EKN has appointed Peter Tuving as Chief Credit Officer and head of the Risk Advisory and CSR department. He is responsible for the quality assurance, development and streamlining of EKN’s credit analysis, sustainability analysis and country analysis.

Sustainable business is possible even on difficult markets. Sustainability is also beneficial from a commercial perspective. These are the conclusions drawn by Karin Wessman, EKN’s sustainability expert, and the sustainability panel which she moderated at GTR Nordic in Stockholm on 16 November 2017. Karin answers three questions about the panel discussion:

Strong growth in Asia, recovery in Europe and increased demand from North America will contribute to continued growth in global trade over the next year. This creates opportunities for Swedish exports.