In Brief

DANISH GOVERNMENT RE-ELECTED

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen

The Danish government, which is a coalition between the Liberal and Conservative parties, was returned to power in the parliamentary election held on 13 November 2007. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen called the election to get the mandate for a number of reforms in welfare and taxation. Although the Prime Minister’s own Liberal party lost six seats in the election and opposition parties to the left collectively retained their status quo, the government still managed a majority withsupport from The Danish People’s Party and a single supporting seat from the Faroe Islands. Greenland and the Faroe islands, which enjoy home rule and are self-governing parts of the Danish Commonwealth, elect two members each to the parliament in Copenhagen. A new party formed from breakaway members of both government and opposition parties gained five seats in the new parliament.

After the election, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the leader of the Conservative party, Deputy Prime Minister Bendt Bendtsen, have renegotiated the government’s agenda for the coming term. The new government aims to restructure the tax system and prepare a new package of welfare reform. It also promises to seek broad collaboration across the political central ground of the new parliament. Ministerial positions have been reshuffled in the new government. Former Minister for Finance Thor Pedersen becomes the new Speaker of the parliament. His position is taken over by former Minister for the Interior and Health Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The new Minister for Integration is Birthe Rønn Hornbech, and the new Minister for the Environment is Troels Lund Poulsen. Former Minister for the Environment Connie Hedegaard becomes the Minister for a new Ministry of Climate and Energy. Carina Christensen is the new Minister for Transport, while former Minister for Transport and Energy Jacob Axel Nielsen becomes the new Minister for Health.

According to the Danish constitution, elections must be held every four years. At the election on 13 November, Anders Fogh Rasmussen had been Prime Minister for 2 1/2 years of his second term in office.

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DENMARK RANKS WORLD NO.1 IN TERMS OF PEOPLE’S MUTUAL TRUST

For foreign investors, international surveys which rank the countries of the world on criteria such as business friendliness, competitiveness, transparency and freedom from crime and corruption, can exert a significant influence when shortlisting countries as possible FDI destinations.

Denmark frequently achieves high ratings in such surveys, and has just done so again in an international survey of mutual trust among populations, which shows that 65% of a representative cross-section of Danes believe they can trust other Danes, giving Denmark pole position among 86 countries surveyed. Norway ranked 2nd, Sweden 3rd, Finland 4th and the Netherlands 5th.

The survey also shows that Danes have considerable trust in public authorities. 96% of the respondents expressed trust in the police, 90% in the legal system, 77% in the public administration and 73% in the government, which ranks Denmark No.1 out of 21 countries in terms of trust in public sector authorities and the government.

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THREE MILLION DANES USE INTERNET BANKING

The number of people in Denmark with access to their bank accounts via the internet continues to increase. New figures show that more than 3 million out of the 5.5 million population have now made an internet banking agreement with their bank.

Bank customers with an internet banking agreement increased by almost 100,000 in the first six months of 2007, while the increase since July 2006 has been 250,000.

The number of companies that conduct their banking transactions via the internet also continues to increase. There are now more than a quarter of a million companies using internet banking.

Nordic banks lead the way in terms of numbers of internet banking customers. In the mid 1990s, Lån & Spar Bank was the first bank in Denmark to offer a basic internet banking solution. Later, the major banks followed with more advanced solutions, and since then the range of internet banking facilities has grown tremendously.

Two major banks, Nordea and Danske Bank, have seen extra internet banking activity this year, after having made a number of products free for customers who carry out transactions themselves. Payment of bills and transfer of money to other banks can now be carried out from internet banking accounts without fees being charged, while it still costs money to have these matters attended to in the bank branches.

Even the smallest co-operative bank in Denmark offers internet banking to its customers.

This is possible because all the small banks, savings banks and co-operative banks collaborate on the operation of EDP centrals, making them large enough to develop the advanced systems that run the internet banking facilities.

DENMARK IS THE WORLD’S BEST PLACE TO DO BUSINESS, SAYS EIU

A new report prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in collaboration with Colombia University in New York, ranks Denmark as the best place in the world to do business – now and for the next five years.

The report ranks the business environments of 82 countries worldwide.

Denmark shares the top score of 8.8 out of a maximum 10 with Finland, while no less than five countries tie for the runner-up position with a score of 8.7: Singapore, Switzerland, Canada, Hong Kong and the US. The EIU’s business environment rankings model uses quantitative data, business surveys and expert assessments to measure the attractiveness of countries’ business environments. The overall rankings are based on scores for 91 indicators, grouped into 10 business environment categories.

Among the strengths contributing to Denmark’s top placing are its flexible labour market, comprehensive use of IT and ability to optimise use of available resources.

 
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COPENHAGEN RAISES ITS BID

CONGRESS CITY: Competition to attract international congresses is tough. But Copenhagen and Denmark as a whole have more to offer: unspoilt nature, visitor-friendly cities and conference facilities that function – every time.

In 2006, the congress department of Wonderful Copenhagen, the Danish capital’s tourist organisation, won 27 major bids for international congresses, the highest figure ever. Notwithstanding the fine result, Wonderful Copenhagen is now putting even more efforts into attracting congresses.

“Competition on the congress market between the world’s congress cities is tougher than ever,” says project manager Ulrika Mårtensson of Wonderful Copenhagen. “In 2005 Copenhagen ranked 10th among the world’s top congress cities, but we dropped to 16th in 2006 – although the number of congresses held in the city increased. So we are now strengthening our efforts.”

Wealth of opportunities

Wonderful Copenhagen plans to offer a number of services to international congress organisers that will include a free pass for all public transport in Copenhagen for congress delegates, financial and consultancy assistance for congress planners, and a high level of hospitality.

“Copenhagen has everything that is needed to attract large or small conferences,” says Ulrika Mårtensson. “The city is of a manageable size, at the same time as being a metropolis. The infrastructure works, and it is a safe place without much big city crime. Things function as they should, and hotels and congress facilities are top class. There are also a comprehensive and varied supply of culture, shopping opportunities and restaurants at an international level.”

Close to nature

Frederiksdal conference hotel, located just 15 minutes from the centre of Copenhagen, is among the smaller venues in the market for international congresses. But it very much characterises the special Danish way of going about things.

“We don’t focus on large and spectacular congresses, but on small meetings where our location and service help to create an intimate and enjoyable atmosphere,” says Birgitte Wæde, director of the Sinatur chain comprising six conference hotels owned by the Danish Union of Teachers. The hotels are spread across Denmark, and all are located in areas of scenic beauty.

Historic manor houses

“There is nothing more inspiring than to be able to leave a meeting and go directly out into beautiful surroundings,” says Wæde. “Of course it matters to us that every aspect of a conference must function in a razor-sharp and professional manner. Our conference facilities can compete with the biggest and the best. But when it comes to the soft values, we are in a different class. The quality of the light, the freshness of the air and the natural beauty of the surroundings provide peace as well as inspiration. Our restaurants are excellent and our rooms are ultra-modern, epitomizing the best of Danish design.” The Sinatur chain’s conference hotels can accommodate extended-stay conferences with 5-30 participants or one-day-conferences with up to 150 participants. The six hotels include a couple of historic manors, an elegant mansion and a renovated clothing factory.

Birgitte Wæde at Sinatur’s purpose-built Frederiksdal conference hotel. It is located in an area of scenic beauty just 20 kilometres from the centre of Copenhagen.