Axis Communications welcomes Swedish Ambassador to its Greater Minneapolis technology center

Axis Communications, the industry leader in network video, recently welcomed Karin Olofsdotter, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, to its Greater Minneapolis Axis Experience Center (AEC). The visit, which included a tour of the AEC located at The Offices @ MOA and a discussion around Axis regional and national business activities, highlighted the company’s commitment to collaboration, transparency, and continued innovation.

“Global collaboration is one of Axis’ main driving forces as an organization,” said Karl Radke, Midwest Business Area Director at Axis Communications. “With Axis being headquartered in Sweden, hosting Ambassador Olofsdotter provided a valuable opportunity to discuss both the current and future state of our business in the Midwest and the rest of the country, including impacts on Swedish stakeholders. Sweden is an integral part of Axis’ DNA, and through daily work with our colleagues in Sweden and visits like this from Swedish leaders, we maintain a strong bond and a valuable global perspective.”

During her visit to Axis’ Greater Minneapolis AEC, Ambassador Olofsdotter saw cutting-edge video, audio, intercom and access control solutions in action, along with advanced integrations for point-of-sales, biometric access control and geo-tracking. A fully integrated, end-to-end product line is on display at the AEC, with over 200 Axis devices live and operational.

Ambassador Olofsdotter was accompanied and hosted by Bruce Karstadt, Honorary Consul of the Swedish Consulate, Minneapolis, Minnesota. During her visit to Minnesota, she also met with Governor Tim Walz, as well as members of the local Swedish-America Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Consular Corps, and the Swedish Women’s Educational Association (SWEA). Additionally, the ambassador attended a dinner at the American Swedish Institute (ASI) in Minneapolis, partly to celebrate Honorary Consul Karstadt’s retirement from ASI after serving as CEO for over 32 years.

In addition to the activities outlined above, Ambassador Olofsdotter also appeared on KYMN Radio’s “National Security this week” with host Jon Olson to discuss Sweden’s foreign policy, which can be listened to here.

Karin Olofsdotter is an accomplished diplomat who started her career in the Foreign Service in 1994 with a posting to the Embassy of Sweden in Moscow. In the years following she worked in numerous leadership posts within the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs before serving as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, DC, from 2008–2011. She took her post as the first female Ambassador of Sweden to the United States on September 1, 2017.