AkzoNobel marks Swedish-Dutch anniversary

Official celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of diplomatic and trade relations between The Netherlands and Sweden were held last month, when AkzoNobel CEO Ton Büchner attended two high profile events designed to highlight the importance and impact of the relationship.

The company has strong links to both countries and Büchner singled out the long-standing bond between Sweden and The Netherlands as being a key driving force behind the continued economic and cultural progress of both countries. "There is a very special connection between Sweden and The Netherlands, which we, at AkzoNobel, are only too happy to recognise,” he said. "There is a mutual spirit of enterprise and co-operation borne out of something rooted in the culture of both countries and we have benefited greatly from this ever since Akzo merged with Nobel Industries exactly 20 years ago.”

He added that both Sweden and The Netherlands remain key countries for AkzoNobel, particularly in the areas of research, innovation and sustainability. The company also takes great pride in its strong cultural heritage in both countries, with the Swedish legacy dating back to 1646, while its Dutch history can be traced to 1792.

As part of the celebration events, Büchner took part in a round table discussion involving ministers and selected CEOs from the two countries, as well as meeting the King and Queen of Sweden at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.