30 August 2024 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta led other ASEAN Ambassadors in a collective call by the ASEAN Committee in Stockholm (ACS) on Mr. Erik Thedéen, Governor of the Riksbank on 29 August 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Mr. Thedéen provided a background on the work of the Riksbank, its monetary plans, and its future programmes and projects. He also shared his views on various topics, including queries and comments by the ACS on Sweden’s “no cash” policy and its effects on tourism, the use of Swedish Krona versus the use of Euro, as well as areas for possible cooperation with ASEAN on a payment system that will impact how Swedish companies do business in the Asia Pacific region.

The ACS is composed of the six (6) embassies of ASEAN member countries in Stockholm, namely: Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The Philippines is the Chair of the ACS for the second half of 2024. END