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May 26, 2012
Hundreds of Russians drawn to Swedish town
Published: 29 Jul 10 09:06 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/28062/20100729/
Hundreds of Russians have said they want to move to a small town in the far north of Sweden, after council leaders earlier this year launched an appeal for immigrants.
- 'Bildt bugged in Russia opposition meet-up' (21 May 12)
- 'Give foreign PhDs a clear path to residency in Sweden' (16 May 12)
- Sweden braces for asylum application spike (4 May 12)
Two months later, the initiative has been a success - 700 Russians have expressed interest after widespread media attention in Russia. The Local received dozens of emails from Russians looking for contact details for the Sorsele authorities.
"There has been a huge interest in our initiative in Russia. It’s even been reported on Russian television," said council leader Göran Wikström.
Much of the municipality's focus has been on attracting immigration from Sorsele's twin town Apatity, on the Kola Peninsula in northern Russia, which borders with Finland and Norway. Municipal leaders believe that people from Apatity will adapt well to life in Sorsele, as both towns are remote and have similar climates.
The council now plans another trip to the Kola Peninsula, after which they will discuss their plans with the Swedish Board of Migration. If all goes to plan, the first Russians will move in late 2011 or 2012.
Without migrant labour, Sorsele will face a shortage of qualified workers, particularly in the public sector. Around 35 percent of the council's employees are expected to retire in the next 10 years.
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get a team which can go around encouraging them pplse than bringing in more russians who u will over look wen they come to u for help
This sounds like a good idea to me, if i was moving to a new country i would want to spend some time in a small place to get used to it before moving to a city. It would make me more comfertable with my host country and would helo integration
it will be a worthy cause if the council decides to seek investors to move into their community and establish businesses. this might help but they will have to advertise the investment potential. they've got a web page but it is only in swedish, not even a russian page to help with their target group.
Within a generation it will be impossible to tell these Russians and their offspring from the Swedish locals. They will think, talk, dress, work and play like Swedes. Now what will it take to get national governments to act so sensibly?
I would love to live in Sorsele!!
Just do these three things:
1- Create funds and tax incentives for entrepreneurs who are willing to invest and open businesses in kommuns like this one. Like providing inexpensive office spaces etc.
2- Let them know that you offer incentives. Advertise etc.
3- Watch the business plans of skilled immigrants together with their resumes and bank letters rolling in.
It is that simple.
Accepting immigrants with compatible cultures and religions, when the country is becoming over-run with cultures otherwise, is a wise move.
Hopefully, the Russians will leave their vodka behind, and take up skiing instead.
1) Actually start having babies. I know, it is a revolutionary concept for Swedes, but that is the traditional way populations were maintained since humans began.
2) Seems that in the USA fundamentalist (polygamist) Mormons are not treated nicely. Why not give them an invitation to move to Sweden -- they would help maintain the population, would certainly convert a few Swedish girls and get them going on raising families, and they aren't known for causing too much trouble.
Even making it an attractive place to do business may not be enough to overcome the location. Now that poeple have the abvility to easily move in modern times they don't want to live in a miserable place in the arctic. People want to live where it's enjoyable to do so.
A Russian girl would liukely not get drunk, and if she did have sex she would at least feel bad about it and wonder if she did the right thing. Russians seem to have a moral compass, although they may not stay very focused.
And on other issues, Russians don't go around apologizing for their past and they respect their heritage -- unlike PC Swedes. Also, the typical Russian man and woman have a sense of gender differences. Guess they know more about biology than Swedes.