Sweden’s National Day, celebrated annually on June 6, commemorates two historic milestones: the election of Gustav Vasa as King of Sweden in 1523 and the adoption of a new constitution in 1809. These events laid the foundations for Sweden as the modern European nation state it is today.
To mark the occasion, the Embassy of Sweden in Cairo hosted a reception at the Ambassador’s Residence on June 10, 2026. The event brought together Egyptian and Swedish partners to celebrate Swedish traditions and to highlight the contribution of Swedish cutting‑edge innovations.
Present as guest of honour was H.E. Minister of Health and Population, Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, representing Prime Minister Dr Moustafa Madbouli and the Government of Egypt.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme of Swedish Midsummer, one of Sweden’s most cherished cultural traditions. The theme highlighted values closely associated with Sweden, like light, nature, community, and renewal, while also reflecting the strong and growing co-operation between Sweden and Egypt. The evening combined cultural heritage with forward‑looking collaboration, illustrating Sweden’s role as a trusted partner in innovation and the green transition.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of Sweden to Egypt, H.E. Mr Dag Juhlin‑Dannfelt, spoke about the meaning of Midsummer and its connection to shared values: “Midsummer is a celebration of light, renewal, and togetherness, these values guide Sweden’s engagement with the world. They shape how we work for democracy, equality, and sustainable development, at home and with our partners abroad.”
He continued by reaffirming Sweden’s commitment to advancing sustainable development, equality, and inclusive growth, and emphasised the importance of partnerships in addressing global challenges such as climate change and the green transition.
The ambassador also highlighted the contribution of Swedish companies operating in Egypt, noting that their work reflects Sweden’s approach to innovation, solutions that are sustainable, human‑centred, and designed to support long‑term development. He welcomed continued collaboration between Swedish and Egyptian partners across sectors including clean energy, sustainable transport, digitalisation, and healthcare.
Following the ambassador’s remarks, H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, delivered a speech highlighting the remarkable momentum that bilateral relations have experienced in recent years across multiple sectors. This progress has been driven by joint efforts to enhance trade exchange, attract investment, and support Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable development. His excellency also underscored the distinguished co-operation in advanced technology, renewable energy, industrial localization, and capacity‑building as a successful model of international partnership.
Dr Abdel Ghaffar concluded his speech by expressing Egypt’s strong optimism about the future of bilateral relations and its readiness to open broader horizons for collaboration, particularly in public‑private partnerships, the green transition, innovation, and joint scientific research. He reaffirmed the Egyptian government’s commitment to working closely with its Swedish counterpart to achieve progress and prosperity for the two friendly peoples.
As part of the celebration, 19 Swedish companies showcased their innovative products and services in an exhibition held during the reception. Guests had the opportunity to engage with company representatives and learn more about Swedish solutions contributing to Egypt’s economic and environmental priorities.
The participating companies were: ABB, AstraZeneca, Atlas Copco, Electrolux, Elekta, Ericsson, Getinge, Hitachi Energy, IKEA, Oriflame, Scania, Sigma, SKF, Söderhub, Swedish Group, Tetra Pak, Transcom, Volvo Cars [Ezz Elarab], and Volvo Buses [Ghabbour Auto].
The Embassy of Sweden extends its appreciation to all partners and guests who joined the celebration and looks forward to continued co-operation in support of a sustainable and inclusive future for both countries.
