Major infrastructure investment in Sweden

The Swedish government emphasises the importance of reliable and efficient transport infrastructure in supporting the country's economic growth and sustainable development.

Maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure is the main priority of this plan. Of the proposed funding of more than NOK 1,170 billion, NOK 354 billion will go towards maintaining the road network, while NOK 210 billion has been allocated to the railways. This means that much of the maintenance backlog will be cleared by the end of the plan period, improving the safety and reliability of the transport network.

In addition to maintenance, more than NOK 607 billion will be invested in new infrastructure, with a particular focus on improving commuting options and freight transport. This includes developing modern transport solutions and building infrastructure that can help increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. The aim is to ensure that Sweden's transport infrastructure is not only robust and efficient, but also a sustainable alternative.

Sweden's investment in transport infrastructure creates significant opportunities for Norwegian businesses, particularly in construction, technology and sustainable solutions. With billions being invested in roads, railways and green mobility, there is strong demand for innovative solutions that can make projects more efficient. Norwegian companies with expertise in renewable energy, digitalisation and transport are well placed to contribute, with opportunities to take part in major projects and potentially secure long-term contracts.

The major investment in transport infrastructure will be closely linked to public procurement. Procurement is an important part of Sweden's economy. Public procurement can be quite complex, especially if you are new to the field. You need to comply with numerous rules and laws, including the Swedish Public Procurement Act (Lagen om offentlig upphandling) and the Act on Procurement in the Utilities Sectors (Lagen om upphandling inom försörjningssektorerna). Careful planning and documentation are also often required to ensure a fair and transparent procurement process. If you want an overview of current procurement opportunities in transport infrastructure or other sectors, you can use services such as Opic and Upphandlingsmyndigheten.

It is important to remember that although Norway and Sweden are neighbouring countries, Sweden has twice the population and a somewhat different business culture. Norwegian companies should therefore be aware of some of these differences.

Here are some cultural differences to be aware of:

• Norwegians and Swedes have slightly different attitudes to time; Swedes prefer to plan meetings and projects well in advance.
• In Sweden, it is generally much more difficult and time-consuming to identify the right contact and decision-making level.
• Swedes do not always find Norwegian easy to understand, so it is worth preparing materials, case studies and a Swedish-language website.