DALLAS — Mayor Eric L. Johnson hosted Her Excellency Karin Olofsdotter, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States, on Wednesday at City Hall. She was accompanied by Helene Honeybone, Honorary Consul of Sweden in Dallas.

The Kingdom of Sweden currently holds the Presidency for the Council of the European Union, and Ambassador Olofsdotter is involved in the process of Sweden applying to join NATO. Mayor Johnson invited former United States Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison, a member of the Mayor’s International Advisory Council, to take part in the meeting.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss opportunities to promote trade and business opportunities between Dallas and Sweden. Ambassador Olofsdotter expressed interest in Mayor Johnson’s international initiatives, including the possibility of a trade office in the city's new International District.

Ambassador Olofsdotter also discussed the significant presence of Swedish businesses located in the Dallas region and the recent trend for small and medium-sized companies choosing Dallas over other major American cities. Mayor Johnson and Ambassador Hutchison discussed Dallas’ competitive advantages, including the city’s diverse and robust economy, its ties to quality higher education institutions, its recent historic tax-rate cut, its commitment to public safety, and its access to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the second-busiest airport in the world.

At the end of the meeting, Mayor Johnson presented the Ambassador with a book on Dallas, and she signed his distinguished visitors guest book. The Ambassador and Honorary Consul then proceeded to the Dallas City Council Chambers to meet with the female Dallas City Councilmembers and commemorate International Women’s Day with photos and well wishes.

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