Connecting Cultures and Industries - Building Bridges Through SwedCham
INTERVIEW WITH CARL-CHRISTIAN MALM, BOARD MEMBER SWEDCHAM
After nearly two decades in Hong Kong, Swedish professional and entrepreneur Carl-Christian Malm has seen the city through both a personal and professional lens. Born and raised in Malmö, Sweden, Carl-Christian’s journey began in Europe before leading him eastward. After studying in Lund and working in Amsterdam, he made the move to Hong Kong, where his career has spanned industries as diverse as media, electronics, and automotive supply. Today, having built his own company connecting manufacturers in China with producers in Europe, particularly in the truck and commercial automotive sector, Carl-Christian continues to deepen his engagement with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce (SwedCham).
For Carl-Christian, SwedCham is not just an institution but a community and a bridge between Sweden and Hong Kong. Having been loosely connected to the chamber since his early years in the city, he has in recent years stepped up his involvement, joining the board and heading the organization’s sustainability committee. This role, he explains, has expanded his perspective by highlighting the collective impact of Swedish companies in Hong Kong and the wider region.
“It’s a great way to see the impact of how this multinational connection between Europe, Scandinavia, Sweden, and Hong Kong has developed—and the connection that will be moving forward in the future,” he says. For Carl-Christian, that connection is not just about commerce and trade, but also about the cultural and social weave that ties together individuals and companies.
He sees SwedCham as an environment that does more than network professionals—it creates opportunities to grow, exchange ideas, and broaden horizons. By bringing together individuals from diverse sectors, members are exposed to new ways of thinking that may shift how they approach their own work. “By being a member, you’re not only going to meet people from various companies and industries you otherwise might not have come across, but it might also help you reach your own goals by opening new doors or connecting you further in ways you might not have thought of,” Carl-Christian notes.
While his professional life keeps him deeply engaged with Hong Kong’s business landscape, Carl-Christian also knows how to enjoy the city. For his own “great escape,” he turns to the neighborhoods with character and creativity.
Yau Ma Tei is a favorite for casual café hopping, he mentions spots like Cafe REVOL, Kubrick, and the charming Not Just Coffee. In many ways, Carl-Christian embodies the spirit of SwedCham: rooted in Sweden, connected globally, and inspired locally. His professional path reflects the importance of building connections across industries and continents, while his active role with the chamber points to a broader vision, using community and sustainability as the foundation for stronger ties ahead.
Hong Kong, with its unique blend of cultures and opportunities, has been his home for 17 years. Through his work and his involvement with SwedCham, Carl-Christian shows how one individual can help strengthen the bonds between Sweden and Hong Kong, creating not just professional opportunities, but also lasting relationships and cultural bridges.