We are an enabling industry - together we are more important than ever!

Yesterday, Thursday, May 7, IT&Telekomföretagen held our very first digital annual meeting. On the one hand, I am very happy, as it is always a big day for us with the annual meeting in our member-driven organization - an opportunity to look back on the past year, highlight our work, what we are proud of - but also take off into the future.

It's a big deal, not least for me, after my first year as Director of the Federation. At the same time, we are all to some extent burdened by the situation we and society find ourselves in.

Because who could have predicted that this spring we would face an extraordinary crisis caused by a biological virus, and that it would hit our society, business and ourselves as human beings so hard?

I know that some of you are working at full speed to meet the increased demand at a time when the digital transformation is moving faster than ever. But many of you are also acutely aware that essential parts of society have shut down and that demand for your services has fallen drastically. The situation is particularly critical and worrying.

According to Radar Ecosystems, the IT market is expected to lose SEK 15 - 20 billion in 2020, which is a 12% decline in the IT market in 2020 with a recovery in 2021 of 6% and then 4-5% per year. This means that the Swedish IT market will not reach pre-COVID-19 levels until 2023, but this will require a stronger recovery than during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Due to the rapid development of events as a result of the corona pandemic and its major impact on the business community, IT&Telekomföretagen has sent out a survey to our member companies. The purpose is partly to be able to inform about the situation in the industry and provide the best possible support to your members, and partly to inform decision-makers about what measures are required to support companies in the industry. Please take a look at the results, which you can find here.

In other words, we know that many companies are suffering greatly and that the economic impact on your member companies, given COVID-19, is a fact. In light of this, it was therefore decided - at yesterday's Annual General Meeting - to grant a temporary 50% discount on the industry fee in 2020. The discount applies to all existing members and to new members who sign up for membership in 2020. Learn more about the decision here.

IT&Telekomföretagen acted immediately when companies began to be affected through our collaboration with Almega and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise. It has been about acting forcefully and quickly to create breathing space for companies and employees. Several of the crisis measures decided by the Government are in line with the proposals we have made. Several necessary measures, but more will be needed.

Some of the support available today to alleviate the economic effects of the crisis our companies are in - results of our, Almega's and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise's joint advocacy work:

• The state takes responsibility for sick pay from companies in April and May (announcement that the state is also responsible for it in June and July)
• State guarantee for loans to small and medium-sized enterprises up to SEK 100 billion. The government takes about 70 percent of the credit risk.
• Employer contributions are reduced by two-thirds for 30 employees in each company.
• All companies will be granted a three-month deferral of employer contributions, preliminary taxes and VAT. The interest rate on the deferral has been reduced from 6.6% to 3.1%.
• State aid for short-term layoffs will be introduced on April 7 but will apply from March 16. In force throughout the year.
  The activity of "electronic communications infrastructure" is considered an essential service with the right to childcare in the event of a preschool or school closure.

We have also presented a package of measures - a desired, political action plan - with measures that we see in the short and slightly longer term are needed for the industry to maintain its increasingly important role as a carrier of society and as an engine for the Swedish economy. In the impending recession that is now on the doorstep, growth-promoting investments are needed that can kick-start the Swedish economy. Here, the digital sector will play a central role as an enabler, but this requires the right conditions and that the right political decisions are made. We are now courting ministers, party leaders, members of parliament and committees in order to gain support for our proposals.

We know one thing for sure: if it weren't for our world-leading tech sector, the relatively high level of digital maturity among the country's citizens, and the fact that Sweden has come a long way in its digital transformation, we would have been even weaker in this crisis we are now experiencing. In the midst of all the misery, the corona crisis has demonstrated the strength of digitization and we as an industry should be proud of how we actually help Sweden through these tough times.

Our industry stands ready to help all parts of society, both public and private, to keep important and critical activities running. This is why, in the early stages of the crisis, we initiated the industry call for action #vitecherupp to highlight and encourage good examples of how the use of new technologies, IT and digital services is helping to manage the ongoing crisis.

So far, as I said, 2020 has not turned out as we thought and planned for. Due to the corona crisis, we have reprioritized large parts of our activities to provide the greatest possible benefit to members. To be honest, it is difficult to fully predict the development of events during the rest of the year. We try to be as flexible as possible and meet your needs and be responsive to what is happening in society in general and in politics. This is clearly a year when we need to be on our toes, we need to come together, we need to be strong together.

We will continue to work with our package of measures, pushing for the measures needed in the short term to enable you as member companies to deal with the acute aspects of the corona crisis, and at the same time pushing for the structural measures and reform packages needed in the longer term. In addition to this, we will continue to monitor and influence the important common issues for the industry. And we will continue to push for the development of collective agreements and develop our employer support.

As I said, much has been characterized by the corona focus of recent months, but if I were to summarize the past year before the corona crisis, which is also my first as a union director, I would say WOW! First and foremost, I am so impressed and inspired by all the fantastic work you do as member companies. I want to thank you for making it so easy for us, in line with our mission, to promote our industry as value-creating and responsible.

Thank you also for contributing so enthusiastically to the Association's and our joint efforts to create even better conditions for you and for digital development.

Together we create the future!

Åsa Zetterberg
Association Director, IT&Telecom Companies