The Swedish municipality of Motala is running a policy called "Growth via diversity" led by Mayor Elias Georges, who came to Sweden as a refugee from Lebanon in 1980. The seminar will discuss this policy from Swedish and Japanese perspectives. Mayor Georges and Jan Holmberg from Motala Municipality will speak about integrating immigrants and refugees and how it leads to growth. Tomoko Ishii will discuss refugee issues in Japan. The seminar aims to discuss how diversity can promote growth.

1. Project 2018 Seminar
“Growth by Diversity”
The Swedish municipality Motala (http://start.motala.se/) is running a policy called
“Growth via diversity” led by mayor Mr. Elias Geroges who himself moved from the
war in Lebanon in 1980 and came to Sweden a refugee when he was 9 years old. Mr.
Georges will share his experiences from refugee to becoming the mayor of Motala.
Furthermore Mr. Jan Holmberg, development manager in Motala Municipality, will
speak about growth through diversity and more specifically Motala’s work with
integration and refugee reception.
(http://www.motala.se/sv/Invanare/Nyhetslista---Invanare/Politikerutbildning-Tillvaxt-g
enom-mangfald/).
Integration of immigrants, refugees to begin with, and relatedly cultural diversity are
vital for Japan as well. Our seminar aims at discussing these issues under the heading of
“Growth via diversity” from both Swedish and Japanese perspectives.
Date: Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
Venue: Aulan, Kräftriket hus 4, Stockholm University (http://bit.ly/1Ur0BE0 )
Program:
18:00-18:15 opening Prof. Jaqueline Berndt, Stockholm University
18:15-18:45 Presentation 1: Mr. Elias Georges (mayor of Motala Municipality) “My
journey from refugee to become mayor of the municipality of Motala”
18:45-19:05 Presentation 2: Mr. Jan Holmberg Development manager “Growth via
diversity”
19:05-19:20 Q & A
19:20-19:40 Presentation 3: Ms. Tomoko Ishii [former refugee officer at Amnesty
International Japan] “Refugee issues in Japan”
19:40-20:00 General discussion

2. Profiles of the speakers:
Presentator 1: Mr. Elias Georges
Came to Sweden from Lebanon 1980 at the age of 8 years old as a refugee. Pol. mag.
from Linköping University (International relations). After working at several
governmental organizations, became local politician. Vice chairman of Motala
municipality council until 2014. Since 2014 chairman of the city council (mayor) of
Motata.
Presentator 2: Mr. Jan Holmberg
Development manager of Motala municipality. Works with strategical issues for the
management of Motala municipality. Main concern is development of the city
organization, and development for the better city to live and work in. Lokala
utvecklingsprogrammet LUP (local development program) to attain political
goals during this period (2015-18) is an important part of responsibility.
Presentator 3: Ms. Tomoko Ishii
Engaged in asylum-seekers and refugees in Japan as a refugee/legal officer at
Tokyo-based NGOs, such as Amnesty International Japan and Japan Association for

3. Refugees, during 2006 and 2012.
Chair: Kazuhiko Kawasaki (Project 2018) and Jaqueline Berndt
Technical Support: Jorunn Nilsson (amanuensis, SU)
Organizers:
l Project 2018 (a forum to discuss common interests in view of the 150th anniversity
of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Japan in 2018)
l Japanese Association in Stockholm (JFS) ストックホルム⽇本⼈会
l Chair of Japanology at the Department of Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish
Studies, Stockholm University
Under the auspices of the Embassy of Japan in Sweden