THE HAGUE, 12/05/06 - The economic affairs ministry is organising a virtual trade mission to Sweden. The initiative is unique in Europe, a spokesman announced yesterday.

Via the Internet, 32 Dutch companies will be able to make contact with Swedish trade partners from 17 May through 8 June. "On the website virtualmission.nl, they place a profile. On this basis, a professional matchmaker selects interesting business partners in Sweden," the ministry explained. "There are no travel costs, travel time and expensive hotels. And still people can build up a business network abroad."

On 17 May, the participants will meet at the same time in Amsterdam and in Stockholm at network specialist Cisco Systems, who will make the location, the network and the equipment available. "After an introduction by State Secretary Van Gennip and her Swedish counterpart State Secretary S^der, companies can get to work on their PC with a webcam. Over two hours, they can make the first contacts via a so-called speed-date session. After that, they must build up their contacts further themselves, as with a normal trade mission."

This is the first time this kind of digital trade mission has been held in Europe. The ministry and the Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD) are organising the mission in collaboration with the Dutch embassy in Stockholm. Also on the programme are a networking lunch, workshops on doing business with Sweden and new media. The mission will conclude on 8 June with an evaluation, at which the best Swedish-Dutch trade match will be announced.