Los Angeles, April 4, 2008. Symbolized by an apple, this year’s Beyond Blond (Swedish Lifestyle Month – April 4-May 4) promotes Sweden’s green sensibility as it joins the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce’s (SACC) Entrepreneurial Days (E-Days) in a four-day program next week in San Diego and Los Angeles focused on the business of sustainable energy, life sciences, IT, the entertainment industry and venture capital. Sweden is internationally recognized for its extraordinarily successful national program to reduce dependency on oil and greenhouse gas emissions. World-leading Swedish companies such as Ageratec, Opcon, ÄFAB, Purac, Scandinavian Biogas with state-of-the-art technology and know-how in biogas production and upgrading, biodiesel production and energy efficiency will be participating in the E-Day forums in San Diego. Representatives from the Swedish city of Växjö, known as the “Greenest City in Europe” and the winner of the Best Environmental Practice in the Baltic Cities Award 2007, will also attend.The Swedish consulate will host a luncheon in Los Angeles later in the week for local leaders to meet with the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) for a discussion focused on waste, water, air and renewable energy.
“This is a unique opportunity for California companies and government agencies to meet a large number of the leading companies in sustainable environment, renewable fuels and energy,” says Nina Ersman, Consul General of Sweden. “The cooperation in these areas between Sweden and California is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2006 between Sweden and California.”
The events in San Diego kick off on April 7 at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center with opening remarks by Jonas Hafström, Ambassador of Sweden to the U.S. James D. Boyd, Energy Commissioner and vice-chair of the California Energy Commission, will speak about "The Energy Partnership between Sweden and California.” Harvey White, Co-founder of Qualcomm; Jay Kunin, Vice president of BioMed Track, San Diego Tech Coast Angels; David Hood, director of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command; André Heinz, founder, Sustainable Technologies Fund, will be among other distinguished speakers.On April 9, Consul General Ersman, will host the E-Days program for the Entertainment sector in Los Angeles. Fox International’s president, Tomas Jegeus, along with other prominent individuals and companies in the industry will participate. For further details and the full program go to: www.beyondblond.org