Delaware Small Businesses have New Representation in Scandinavia: Andrew Clutz

Andrew Clutz of Conway, Inc. joins the Export Delaware Team to provide trade development services to Delaware exporters in Scandinavia, specifically Sweden and Denmark.

Meet Andrew Clutz

Andrew has extensive experience with international corporations and their business expansion strategies. He understands the challenges facing international trade and economic development organizations from his 25 years of work with agencies such as: UK Trade & Invest, Invest in Denmark, Japan External Trade Organization, The World Bank, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, Alsace International, CINDE – Costa Rica, the US Virgin Islands EDA, New York City, the Government of Canada, Opportunities NB and many other regional and city organizations.

He is fluent in Norwegian, French, Swedish, Danish, and has a basic knowledge of German, and Spanish.

Prior to joining Conway, Andrew served as the Americas Director for Oxford Intelligence overseeing sales and operations for trade and investment advisory services in the Americas for 12 years.

Prior to joining Oxford Intelligence, he ran his own international business advisory practice focused on serving business expansion and inward investment attraction since 2000.

Andrew received his MBA in International Business from Northeastern University and a BA in European History from Hobart College. Andrew has also done graduate course work at Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Reims, France and Concordia University in Montreal, Canada as well as undergraduate studies in Norway. He is active with several national and international associations including as a member of the International Economic Development Council – International Advisory Committee.

Why Scandinavia?

According to the US Department of Commerce, the Scandinavian countries comprise the world’s 12th largest economy (estimated GDP of U.S. $1.38 trillion), and are among the most innovative, competitive, and transparent in the world.

Sweden: 

• Sweden has a GDP of $551 billion and a population of 10 million. It is the largest Scandinavian economy and boasts a transparent, highly developed, sophisticated and diversified market with few barriers to entry.
• Sweden consistently ranks among the top 10 worldwide for its connectivity, governance, investment in R&D, and business climate.
• The United States is Sweden’s largest trading partner outside of the EU. In 2018, U.S. merchandise exports to Sweden were valued at $4.5 billion and imports were $11.4 billion, generating a trade deficit of $6.9 billion (roughly the same deficit level as 2017). The U.S. exported $5.6 billion in services to Sweden in 2017 and imported $3.2 billion, a trade surplus of $2.4 billion.
• Major categories of U.S. exports to Sweden include aerospace/defense, automotive aftermarket, telecommunications equipment, healthcare/life sciences, information technologies, safety/security, clean-tech, industrial machines, and renewable energy.

Denmark:

• Denmark is a rich, modern society with state-of-the-art infrastructure and distribution systems, a highly skilled labor force, and a central location that makes it an excellent distribution point for the Scandinavian, Northern European, and Baltic markets.
• Denmark’s standard of living is among the highest in the world with a GDP per capita of USD 50,564 in 2017.
• Political and commercial relations with the United States are excellent. The United States is Denmark’s largest trading partner outside the EU, with almost a 10% share of total Danish export.
• Major US imports include industrial machinery, capital equipment, computers, and telecom products, software, aircraft, and scientific instruments. Other important U.S. exports to Denmark are military equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, tobacco, wine, fresh vegetables, nuts, and forest products.