Scandinavia and Denmark
Sweden
Geography
Sweden is located between Norway and the Gulf of Bothnia and has a population of approximately 8 million people. It is slightly larger than California, with a terrain of mostly flat or rolling lowlands in the east and, forests and plains in the south, and mountains in the western part of the country. The climate in northern Sweden is subarctic all year. In the rest of the country it is cold and cloudy during the winter (September through April) and slightly warmer temperatures during the summer (May through August).
Land usage is primarily woodland, with 68% of the land being woodland, 1% pastureland, 0% farm land, 7% arable land, and 24% other land. In the Gulf of Bothnia ice floats in the water, causing shipping problems. Sweden also has many natural resources. They include zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, and hydropower.
Economy
Currency: USD$1=9.52334 Swedish Kronas February 7, 2001
Sweden has a system of high tech-capitalism and comprehensive welfare benefits, which enable the citizens of the country to experience a very high standard of living. Sweden also has a very good internal and external communications system, a skilled labor force, and a modern distribution system. Most of the resources are used for foreign trade. The main resources in Sweden include timber, hydropower, and iron ore. Private firms are responsible for 90% of industrial output, with the engineering sector responsible for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture does not play a large role in the economy of Sweden. Only 2% of the GDP and 2% of the jobs are related to agriculture. Recently Sweden has been having some problems with higher unemployment rates, inflation, and the loss of competitiveness in international markets. Sweden joined the EU in 1995 and follows their economic policies.
The GDP of Sweden is $184b and the GDP real growth rate is 3.8%. GDP per capita is $20,700. The GDP composition by sector is 2.2% agriculture, 30.5% industry, and 67.3% services. The inflation rate is 0.4%.
Sweden has a labor force of 4.3m people, with 2% in agriculture, 24% in industry, and 74% in services. The unemployment rate is 5.5%, with an additional 5% in training programs.
Major industries include iron and steel, precision equipment (radio and telephone parts), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, and motor vehicles. The few agricultural products produced include grains, sugar beets, potatoes, meat, and milk.
Sweden’s exports are $85.7b. Export partners include EU 57% (Germany 11%, UK 9%, Denmark 6%, Finland 5%), Norway 9%, and US 9%. Imports are $67.9b. Sweden imports machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel, foodstuffs, and clothing.
Government
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Swedish government is based largely on ancient traditions and laws. The executive branch consists of a chief of state (king), Prime Minister, and cabinet. The current king of Sweden is King Carl XVI Gustaf. He has been in power since September of 1973. The monarchy is passed on through hereditary. The heir to the Swedish throne is Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree. The king has no political power and plays no part in politics. He is there for ceremonial purposes and as an official representative of the country.
Political power rests in the hand of the cabinet, which consists of the Prime Minister and 22 ministers in the cabinet. The cabinet has the formal power of governmental decisions. The current Prime Minister is Goran Persson. He has been in power since 1994. The parliament elects the Prime Minister and the next election occurs in 2002. The Prime Minister appoints the cabinet.
Since 1971, Sweden has had a unicameral Parliament (Riksdag). Parliament has 349 members, elected every four years. Parliament is in session September through mid-June. There are seven political parties in Parliament. They are the moderate party, the liberal party, the center party, the Christian democrats, the green party, the social democratic party, and the left party. The Riksdag keeps the general public informed of matters of Swedish government, as well as happenings in the European Union (EU).
Sweden is divided into 23 counties, each county having a county governor and county administrative board. The county governors are elected by government and serve six-year terms. The county board is elected by the popular vote from the county.
On 1 January 1995, Sweden became part of the EU. During the time Sweden has been part of the EU, they have promoted gender equality and employment. So far the EU has had a very good response towards Sweden in both of these areas. The Euro has not been accepted as Sweden’s form of currency. During the first six months of January 2001, Sweden will take over the position of presidency of the EU. Sweden will preside over the Council of Minister of the EU. While presiding over the EU, the top three priorities of Sweden are enlargement, environment, and employment. On March 23 and 24, Stockholm will be the site for the EU summit. During this time, representatives from the EU countries will meet and discuss goals and current happenings of the EU.
People
The Swedish states first began to form in 750-1060 AD. During this time the Vikings inhabited Sweden and they spread their influence eastward into Russia. This influence is still prevalent in some parts of Russia today. In present day Sweden, Swedes, Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, and Turks live in Sweden. The majority of the population is Swedes. There is a very strong German influence dating back to the Middle Ages and a great deal of the French culture is prevalent in Sweden. In the north of Sweden, the ethnic minority is the Sami.
United States culture has had a great impact on influencing Swedish culture during the past decade. The greatest impact of United States culture has been on television, music, food, and fashion. English is also the secondary language in Sweden.
The population in Sweden is 8.8 million people, with 500,000 immigrants into the country. Most of the immigrants come from Europe. The main language is Swedish, which is a Germanic language that is similar to Danish and Norwegian. Sweden’s culture is drawn from the folk culture of Sweden’s past. Because of the country’s distance from Europe, they have developed a different culture than the European culture.
The dominant religion in Sweden is Lutheran. Eighty seven percent of the population is Lutheran, with the rest of the population being Catholic and Muslim.
Sweden also has a very good welfare system. When children are two to six years old, childcare is guaranteed and provided by the government. From ages seven to sixteen, children attend compulsory comprehensive school, which is similar to a public school. After ninth grade, children attend either an academic or technical school.
Diet
Swedish food is simple and satisfying. Fish, potatoes, and onions are the main components of many meals. In the past few years, foreign fast food had become a large part of the youth culture in Sweden. In restaurants you can expect to pay 100-150 kronar for a dish.
Sweden is home of the Smorgasbord. It is made up of many small dishes, including, herring, Swedish meatballs, pies, salads, eggs, bread, and boiled and fried potatoes. Janssons temptation is another Swedish dish. Sliced herring, potatoes, and onions are all baked in a cream. On Thursdays, many Swedes eat pea soup with pork and pancakes for desert.
Along the streets of Sweden it is very common to see hot dog stands, called korvkiosk. The hot dogs are served with mustard, ketchup, and boiled or fried potatoes.
The bread in Sweden is very sweet and served with messmor, a soft whey cheese. Another big dish is Sushromming, a fermented Baltic herring that is sold in cans. It has a very foul smell and is served with boiled potatoes and onions.
Coffee is very popular in Sweden. Swedes drink coffee for every meal and sometimes even have coffee parties. Alcohol is very expensive and the government regulates it strongly. Alcohol can only be purchased through the government at stores open only on weekdays. It is illegal to advertise alcohol in any magazines, radio ads, or on television. The Swedish are known for Snaps, which is a spiced drink distilled from potatoes or grain alcohol. It comes in various flavors, such as, fruit, berries, or lemongrass. At every celebration it is taken in shots.
Norway
Geography
Norway has a population of 4.4 million, with 65 percent of the people between the ages of 15 and 64. Nearly 72 percent live in towns or cities. Norway’s land area would be similar to the size of New Mexico. Norway is surrounded by the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and the Arctic Ocean.
Eastern Norway is comprised of forests, valleys and farmland. West Norway has deep fjords and glaciated valleys. They reach far into the high mountains where snow and ice lie year round. Middle Norway is more gentle, mostly lowlands. Northern Norway is mountainous, though less than Western Norway. It is cut by many fjords, river valleys and waterways and has thousands of islands off the coast. The Glomma river is the largest and most utilized for transportation. The climate varies from chilly to extreme cold. The temperatures vary from –50 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit. From14 May to 29 July there is a period of continues sunlight (Northern Lights). Annual rainfall in Western Norway is around 88 inches, however Eastern Norway only receives 30 inches.
Norway is the world’s second largest oil exporter following Saudi Arabia. This allows the opportunity to specialize in petrol, paraffin, heating oil and plastic materials. The leading industry for Norway is Hydro-electricity. About 30 percent of Norway’s 4,000 rivers are suitable for production of electrical. 99 percent of the electricity used is generated by waterpower.
Economy
Norway is one of the world’s richest countries. It has an important stake in promoting a liberal environment for foreign trade. The gross domestic product has increased to $151b. As of 4 January 2000, the unemployment rate is 3.8%. Inflation of consumer price has fallen to 2%.
The country’s work force is concentrated mostly in government and social services. Wholesale and retail trade along with manufacturing comprises 32%. Transportation, finance, agriculture, forestry, fishing, construction and oil extraction represent the remaining 28%.
Norway's emergence as a major oil and gas producer in the mid-1970 transformed the economy. The large sums of revenue generated by oil production are then reinvested in forgein stock markets. For the sole reason that within the next twenty years production is expected to taper off. Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the United States are the largest trading partners. In 1994 Norway voted against joining the European Union. Staying independent from the union has enabled continuous economic growth. The major exporting commodities are fuel and other energy products, food, beverages, and manufacturing of ships. Machinery and transport equipment, food, tobacco are the fundamental imports.
Government
Norway became a union on 7 June 1905 from the dissolved Sweden. Shortly after declaring its independence the constitution was modified to the current state. Norway currently is a constitutional monarchy. The main principles of the constitution were founded for the most part, on the same ideals expressed in the constitution of the United States. Mainly concentrating on the sovereignty of the people, separation of powers and human rights.
The functions of the king are mainly ceremonial, but he is an influence and a symbol of national unity. Powers of the state are divided between several branches of government, which are independent of each other and yet act as checks and balances of each other. The constitution grants important powers to the king, mainly exercised by the king’s council. The head of the executive branch is the chief of state or king. This position is always reserved for the king's son. The prime minister leads the parliament. State council or cabinet is appointed by the king and approved by the parliament.
The legislative branch or parliament is a modified unicameral that divides itself into two chambers, consisting of 165 seats. The majority alternates between either the labor or conservative party. Each member is elected by a popular vote to serve a four-year term. For certain purposes, the parliament elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or lagting.
The legal system is a mixture of customary, civil, and common law traditions. Monarch is solely responsible for appointment of the Supreme Court. When requested, the Supreme Court will render advisory opinions to the legislature.
People
The population of Norway is ethnically homogenous. Apart from several thousand Saami and people of Finnish origin in North Norway, the country has no other significant minority groups, although small numbers of Danes, Swedes and Britons.
The Two forms of the Norwegian language are officially recognized as equal. The older form, Bokmal, is used by about 80 percent of children in schools; 20 percent use Nynorsk (Neo-Norwegian). The Saami people in the north speak Saami.
About 89 percent of the population belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway, though many are non-practicing members. The church is supported by the state, and the king nominates the clergy. Complete religious freedom is guaranteed, however, other churches, mostly Pentecostal and other Protestant congregations and Roman Catholic, represent most of the non-Lutheran population. Families tend to be small. Husbands and wives usually consider each other equal in authority as far as running the household is concerned, and it is common for both to work outside the home. Women make up almost half of the labor force and account for about one-third of the seats in parliament. Childcare and other family social-welfare schemes are considerably more generous than in most countries. Many families own their houses or flats, and more than one-third own or part own a cabin in the mountains or by the sea. It is common for couples to live together before, or instead of, getting married. On average, men marry around the age of 25 and women marry around the age of 20.
Most Norwegians are physically active. Nearly every Norwegian can ski, and children learn the skill at a very young age. Other sports that people enjoy include fishing, soccer, swimming, walking, and boating. Watching television, reading, and going to the cinema are popular leisure activities, and the arts are well supported. Community clubs or associations play a large part in the organization of sporting, cultural, and other recreational activities
Diet
Although foreign restaurants have sprung up everywhere in the last few years, the survey's shows that when Norwegians go out for meals, which they are doing more and more frequently. What they are mostly looking for is a good Norwegian dish, preferably made with Norwegian raw materials. The reason for this preference is that a large majority believes that Norwegian raw materials offer better quality.
Salted and pickled herring are used in many of the tasty dishes, which make up the Norwegian cold table. Herring can be found on hotel breakfast tables, pickled or in tomato or mustard sauce.
Norway has the world's best milk, in their opinion. Just as well, perhaps, with milk consumption amounting to 39 gallons per person per year! Their diet also stands out somewhat from those of other industrialized countries in its relatively low meat consumption (50 kg) and relatively high fish consumption. Grain production varies from year to year. Climatically, Norway is at the limits of where grain for human consumption can be grown. Norway does not produce its own sugar. Imported sugar was a luxury article for a long time, which may help to account for the use of less sugar in our recipes than recommended in other countries.
Breakfast usually consists of open sandwiches and milk or coffee, and lunch is often the same. Meat or fish, potatoes, vegetables, and a soup or dessert is generally prepared for the main meal, often eaten as early as 5 PM. Some people also have a light snack later in the evening. Traditional dishes include meatballs, fish balls, salmon, lutefisk (cod or rock salmon), and farikal (cabbage and mutton). A buffet of hot and cold dishes is often served on special occasions. Formal table manners are similar to those in many north European countries. For example, guests do not start eating until invited to do so by the host, and hands are kept above the table.
Finland
Geography
Finland is country found in Northern Europe, and is part of a group of countries known as Scandinavia. It is located in between the 60th and 70th northern parallels. The Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden to the west, Estonia to the south, the far western part of Russia to the east, and Norway to the far north surrounds Finland. Finland is home to 5,132,000 people (April 2000 est.) within its 130,125 square mile area, which is slightly smaller than California, or about twice the size of Nebraska.
Finland is made up of costal lowlands, a central lake district, and forests, swamps, and tundra in the northern uplands. In fact, 75% of Finland is forested with another 10% in the form of lakes. Nearly 100,000 lakes exist in the country. About one quarter of Finland lies within the Arctic Circle, giving it a cool climate. Finland makes use of its climate and area by mining iron and smelting it, producing pulp and paper, forestry, ship building, fur trapping, and fishing.
The climate of Finland is temperate to cold. In the southwestern part the mean temperature is 5.5 degrees C, while the northwestern part is the coldest with a mean temperature of 0 degrees C. In the southern most part of this country, it rains nearly every afternoon during the summer, averaging 24-27.5 inches annually. The northern part also gets about 24 inches of rainfall, though about half of it is in the form of snow.
Economy
Finland’s economy has been proclaimed a modern day Cinderella story. Since 1860 it has been on a truly successful path. In 1999 the GDP was $108.6 b and GDP per capita was $21,000. Finland growing at the fair rate of 3.5%, with inflation rate only at 1%. GDP in the last half decade has been showing trends of growth all around. The GDP growth rate in total volume production is exploding even though the employment rate is not accelerating as quickly. The GDP is split with 5% in Agriculture, 32% in Industry, and 63% in the Service department. There are 2.533 m fins in the labor force with an unemployment rate of 10%. The labor force is split up as such: 32% in public service, 22% industry, 14% commerce, 10% finance, insurance, and business services, 8% agriculture and forestry, 8% transport and communication, and 6% construction.
Some of Finland’s major industries are metal products, shipbuilding, timber, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, and textiles and clothing. Industry in Finland is growing at a very high rate in the Metal and Engineering field. Finland exports mainly to countries in the European Union at 56% (Germany 12%, Sweden 9%, UK 9%, and France 5%) but they also trade with the United States 7%, Russia 6% and 7% Japan.
Finland, given its very limited resources in some areas, is a major importer of certain goods and services. Their cold climate forces this. Some of Finland’s major imports include foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transportation equipment, iron, steel, machinery, and textile yarn and fabrics. Finland also imports mainly from countries in the European Union at 60% (Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 7%) but they also import from other countries around the world, namely the United States 8%, Russia 7%, and Japan 6%.
The Finish currency is the historically the markka with an exchange rate of FMk 6.3 to $1. However, they have since then adopted the Euro as another form of debt payment with their recent reception into the European Union; exchange rate is about 1 euro to $1.
Government
The Republic of Finland is run similar to countries such as the United States in many aspects; however, there are parts of it that are genuinely Finnish. The first branch of the government is the executive. The chief of state, and the person who has the final say so on who is in charge of the country is the president. The current president is Tarja Halonen who was elected in March of 2000 for a six-year term. Tarja is a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). She was elected by only the slight margin of about 3%. One aspect, which makes Finland different than many other democracies, is the presence of a Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, or head of the government, is chosen from the majority party by the president, along with a deputy Prime Minister to assist. They are, Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli Niinisto (since 13 April 1995). The President also appoints the cabinet, or Council of State. They are responsible to the Parliament.
The other branches of the government are also very similar to that of the United States. There is a legislative branch made up of 200 members. This unicameral Parliament is chosen by popular vote on a proportionate basis. These elections were last held in 1999 and are not changed for 4 years. The Judicial branch is headed by a Supreme Court to be appointed by the president.
Most of the pressures on these government branches comes from communist related parties, such as Communist Workers Party [Timo Lahdenmaki]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Communist Party-Unity [Yrjo Hakanen]; Finnish Pensioners Party. This may seem odd in a democratic (republic) type of rule, until the history of Finland is studied. Much of this communist influence can be explained by studying the roots of Finland. Until December 17, 1917 Finland belonged to Russia when they succeeded, named Helsinki the capital, and wrote their own constitution about 2 years later. Much of the law was adapted from Swedish law; although, the Russian influence is still evident in today’s society and government.
Finland is divided into administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani. These function much like states do in the United States.
Currently there is no noticeable turmoil or scandal within the Finish government, and according to most sources it is a smooth running system of checks and balances within the many branches thereof.
People
The people who currently inhabit Finland have a history nearly as old as the land itself. The first Finish speaking individuals moved into this area a couple of hundred years B.C. They, at this time chased out the current inhabitants, or Sami (Lapp) people, into colder artic regions of Europe and Russia. In 1157 they impelled Eric IX of Sweden to make them a part of the Swedish kingdom. This lasted until 1809 when the Russian empire took their land from them. However, as we know the current country of Finland broke free and declared independence in 1917 while Russia was busy with a revolution of their own.
Ethnic groups in Finland are as follows: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%.As the ethnic groups may indicate, there is a strong Finish influence in this country even well over 2000 years after they inhabited the area. The language breakdown is Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official); small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities also reflect this trend. When Eric IX made current day Finland a part of his empire he made it a Christian state today the religious divisions are 89% Evangelical Lutheran, 1% Greek Orthodox, 9% none, and 1% other. Finland is a wealthy country with GDP per capita at $21,000. Many of the lifestyles that the people possess reflect this greatly. One standout example is the estimates shown here are 100% literacy for males and females over 15 years old. That is, those that can read and write. This example perhaps best describes the level of education in Finland.
Diet
The diet of the Finnish people can historically be described in three words: location, location, location. Finland known for its mild to cold climate has had the option of refrigeration throughout time. For this reason, the Finnish cuisine may prove to be a bit milder than someone in a tropical setting, and up until most recently, it has been. A traditional Finish meal may include such staples as trout, cod, herring, eel, salmon, and perch on the fish side. These are prepared in a number of ways including pickled, smoked, or soaking in vodka. For meat, Finns eat game such as duck or rabbit. Beef is also a food product here; however, it is not as popular as it is in other places in the world. Reindeer is making a solid drive in the Finnish food industry. Though it is high priced, consumption has been rising steadily. This can be attributed to its fine taste and low fat content. Reindeer is prepared much like Americans prepare a steak or other beef products, though it is also smoked unlike beef. Finally, sausage is a large food staple in Finland. Warm and cold sausages in Finland are much like a Ball Park hotdog in the United States. They are sold everywhere and people cannot seem to get their fill of them.
Finland in the past few decades has changed from much of its traditional ways of eating. Fast food chains are moving in everywhere, hamburgers, pizza, and other familiar chains. One source says there is a pizza parlor on every block. This, much like the high velocity society in the US leads to fewer meals at home with the family, and the loss of many age-old traditions. This could also be a sign of the industrialization and growth of Finland as a world leader.
Denmark
Geography
Denmark is a peninsula country located in North Europe bordering Germany. The coastline borders the Baltic and the North Sea. With a population of approximately 5.2 million people, Denmark is roughly two times the size of Massachusetts. Denmark consists of mostly low and flat land to gentle rolling plains. Geographically, 61% of the land is arable, 0% contains permanent crops, 6% meadow and pastures, 12% forest and woodlands, and 21% used for other purposes. There are 68 Km of land boundaries shared with Germany and 3,379 Km of coastline. The climate in Denmark is temperate. Summers are humid, cool, and overcast with mild and windy winters. Flooding is possible along areas of the coastland where a system of dikes holds the sea back.
Economy
Denmark has a modern market economy that relies very heavily on trade. GDP for Denmark was 127.7b in 1999. This is equivalent to a per capita income of $23,800. This allows Denmark natives to have a comfortable living standard and a well-established welfare system for those who need assistance.
With a labor force of 2.9m, 71% of the Danish people are in the service industry. Of the remaining 29%, 25% are in industry and 4% are in agriculture. Denmark exports 49.5b in goods and imports 43.9b. Exports consist of machinery and equipment, meat and meat products, fish, dairy products, ships, and chemicals. Imports consist of machinery and equipment, petroleum, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, and paper. 75% of trade occurs within the European Union, with Germany being their biggest trading partner.
Denmark has developed one of the strongest economies in Europe through their involvement in highly technical services. Pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding, and electronics make up a large portion of their manufacturing sector. Much capital has been invested into research and development to allow Denmark to stay on the cutting edge of technology in farming and specialized machinery development. This has allowed the economies to flourish while cheaper labor forces in the former Soviet Union and South Korea have undercut their textiles, clothing industry, and shipbuilding capabilities. The Danish krone (DKr) has been increased in value to the American dollar with the current exchange rate at $1=7.3DKr. All and all, the Danish economy is very stable.
Government
Denmark has a constitutional monarchy that stemmed from a period of monarchial absolutism that infringed on the freedom of citizens. This democracy is based on the idea that all men are born free and equal. This allows for universal suffrage and a system similar to the United States that people have certain rights.
The current democracy was established in 5 June 1953. The principles of the democracy are laid out in the Constitutional Act of June 1849. The Constitutional Act of 1849 could be compared to our Bill of Rights.
To guarantee a stable and secure democracy, Denmark’s government is broken into three independent branches housed in the palace in capital Copenhagen. These branches include the legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Each has a limited right of authority over the other to prevent the misuse of power.
The legislature branch, which is titled the Folketing (Unicameral Parliament), is composed of 179 members that are elected by the general public for a term of four years. Elections were last held 11 March 1998. The Folketing’s main responsibility is creating legislation. These laws and regulations only take effect when the Prime Minister, the head of the executive branch, signs them. The Folketing has power over the executive branch with the right to through the Prime Minister out by a majority vote of no confidence.
A hereditary monarch, currently Her Majesty The Queen Margrethe II, controls the executive branch. Since this is a hereditary monarchy, the legislative branch can’t throw out the Queen or King. The monarch appoints a prime minister to head the executive branch, current Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. As Prime Minister, he has the duty to sign Acts into law. The Prime minister has the power to dissolve the Folketing at any time with hopes to achieve a more stable majority.
The Judicial branch has the responsibility of looking out for the people. Judges are appointed for life by the monarchy. They determine weather the laws written by the legislature and signed by the executive branches are the best for the people. The judicial branch has the authority to dismiss laws they feel are not in the best interest of the public. This gives each branch of the government a certain power over another branch to ensure stability.
People
Present day Denmark has cultural roots that can be traced to 500AD when the Danes, a tribe from Sweden, migrated into the area. Along with current cultural practices, the Danes brought along with them the predecessor to the modern Danish language. The Danish monarch was established when the area was conquered by the Norwegian Viking chieftain Hardegon.Hardegon’s son, Gorm the Old, established the monarchy early in the 10th century. As Viking power diminished, Denmark boarders were established as currently found today.
Currently, Denmark has a population of 5,336,000 citizens. The majority of the population is from a traditional Danish background, which is comprised of a Viking and Dane mix. Other nationalities include German, Inuit, Faroese, and Scandinavian. Denmark has a population growth rate of 0.31% with a ration of 0.98 boys/girls. Denmark has a 100% literacy rate for those 15 years and older. The primary religion in Denmark is Evangelical Lutheran (97%) the remaining three percent are primarily Protestant and Roman Catholic.
Diet
For the citizens of Denmark, dining is a time of relaxation and a chance for conversation with the family. Traditional Danish foods are not very exotic, but are very tasty and usually contain higher fat contents. These foods are based mostly on bread, beef, and potatoes. For lunch, most Danes eat an open-faced sandwich called a smorrebrod. This sandwich is eaten cold and generally made with whole kernel rye bread. Some popular toppings include salami, herring, liver pate, cheese, caviar, dill, shrimp, and sliced hardboiled egg just to name a few. Other traditional meals include sausages, and a rice pudding during the winter made from pearl rice. This is usually only eaten in the winter because it is so heavy. Some other delights enjoyed by the Danish include lutefisk & lefse, Danish meatballs, herring, cheeses, lingonberries, chocolate, and flat bread.
Modern day Danes now eat much of the same food we do. With food processing being a huge portion of their production economy, many forms of frozen and canned foods exist. Some of these foods are beef, chicken, and many fruits and vegetables. Frozen meals are becoming more popular as both men and women work full time jobs.
Products for Export
Scandinavia and Denmark will be exporting a variety of meat and fish baskets. These baskets will also include select cheeses and alcohols. Our two primary baskets will be the Frontier Basket and the Deep Sea Basket. Another service offered by our firm is to custom build a basket with your choice of products. A handling price of $3.00/item will be added to the total cost. Customers can log onto our web site at www.scandinaviandelicacies.com and custom order a gift basket.
The Frontier Basket Includes:
Products for Import
Our desk will be importing chocolates from Belgium, tea from China, and fruits from Belize. The chocolate will be sold in gift shops of fine hotels, teas will be sold in Internet coffee shops, and the fruits will also be available for hotels.
Emery Worldwide (www.emeryworldwide.com) will handle all of our shipping and transportation needs. The price to transport the five pound chocolate basket from Belgium to all locations where it will be distributed is $20 for each box. The tea will cost $22 per five-pound package from Beijing China to all destinations. The fruit basket actually shipped form Nassau, Bahamas will cost $33.25 to ship to all destinations it will be distributed. These prices will have to be in addition to the final sale price. The price of the tea basket before shipping is $150, the chocolate basket price is $30.06, and the fruit cost $30. None of these prices have the cost of shipping included.
Distribution centers include
Tea:
Finland
Samaa Internet Café
Saimaantie &
Joutseno 54100, Finland
Phone: 358 5 2232770
Fax: 358 5 4535100
e-mail: café@saimaainternet.net
Norway
Nettcafe
Akers Gt 39
Oslo 0158, Norway
Phone: (47) 22 412190
Fax: (47) 22 338560
e-mail: info@nettcafe.com
Sweden
Café Acces
Kulturhuset-Box 164 14
s-103 27 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 08 50831489
e-mail: staff@cafeaccess.se
Chocolate and Fruit:
Sweden
First Hotel Reisen
Skeppsborn 12-14
Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 223260
Fax: 201559
Radisson SAS Royal
Frosundaviks Alle 15, Solna
Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 6245500
Fax: 858566
Denmark
Radissan SAS Scandinavia
Amager Boulevard 70
DK 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
Phone: 45-33-96-5000
Fax: 45-33-96-5000