Denmark’s minister for foreign affairs visited California last week to oversee the signing of an agreement to cooperate on climate and technology efforts.
Joining California Gov. Gavin Newsom at the August 22 signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) were Denmark Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Ambassador of Denmark to the U.S. Jesper Møller Sørensen.
The MOU between Denmark and California will lay the foundation for even stronger collaboration on the green economy, emerging technologies and innovative ecosystems.
The partnership:
- Boosts the green economy and accelerates climate resilience by achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 through shared leadership.
- Enhances digital and cyber resilience through technology and policy collaboration.
- Strengthens innovation ecosystems by supporting public-private collaboration, research exchange, development projects, and aligning investment in future-oriented sectors, including emerging technologies and sustainability.
- Facilitates the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and policy insights through dialogues, delegations, trade promotions, projects, and partnerships.
Former Prime Minister
Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2015 to 2019. He was Leader of the Venstre (Left) party (which is a center right party) from 2009 to 2019. He has been a member of the Folketing or Danish Parliament since 1994.
CalChamber Attendance
Representing the California Chamber of Commerce at the MOU signing and Danish reception was Susanne Thorsen Stirling, CalChamber senior vice president for international affairs and a Danish native.
Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis presided over the morning ceremonies and welcomed the approximately 100 dignitaries to the Salesforce Building in San Francisco. Gov. Newsom and Minister Rasmussen both gave formal remarks.
Besides Denmark Ambassador to the U.S. Sørensen, the Danish side included the new Danish Consul General to San Francisco, Jacob Vind. On the previous day, August 21, Consul General Vind hosted close partners and friends at a private evening reception at the residence of the Consul General of Denmark on the occasion of the visit by Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Rasmussen.
In addition to brief remarks by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the reception featured insights from two other speakers: David Friedberg, CEO, chairman and co-founder of Ohalo Genetics, co-host of All In, and CEO and founder of The Production Board; and Connie Nielsen, president and founder of Human Needs Project, and a Danish-born actress, producer and writer. The remarks covered prominent profiles in tech, innovation and the dynamic intersection between Denmark and California.
Silicon Valley – Innovation Centre Denmark
Innovation Centre Denmark is a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of Denmark. The first office opened in Silicon Valley on June 4, 2006 by Prince Jachim of Denmark is one of seven Innovation Centres globally. The centres work for innovation and growth in Denmark. The other centres are located in Munich, Bangalore, Seoul, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Boston.
The Silicon Valley centre also facilitates research collaboration between leading Danish and Californian research institutions, and promotes entrepreneurship in education in Denmark.
Denmark: Rotating President of the European Union
Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from July 1 to December 31, 2025, taking over from Poland. As the president, Denmark is responsible for setting the EU’s agenda and leading key legislative and policy discussions, focusing on priorities such as security, green competitiveness, migration, and enlargement. This is the eighth time Denmark has held this important role within the EU.
Denmark has chosen the motto “A strong Europe in a changing world” to reflect its focus on strengthening the EU’s ability to address global challenges by prioritizing security, competitiveness, and the green transition. Denmark is emphasizing the need for a resilient and responsive Europe in a volatile global landscape.
Key priorities include:
- Strengthening European security and defense: Improving the EU’s capacity to act in a rapidly evolving security environment and enhancing cooperation with NATO.
- Enhancing the EU’s global competitiveness: Revitalizing Europe’s economic dynamism by reducing regulatory burdens, fostering innovation, and mobilizing private investment.
- Advancing the green and digital transitions: Championing the green transition as a key driver of growth and ensuring Europe’s leadership in digital technologies.
- Promoting social cohesion and inclusion: Ensuring decent working conditions, combating social exclusion, and promoting equal opportunities for all citizens.
Denmark’s presidency also aims to initiate negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and address challenges related to migration, while upholding the EU’s fundamental values of democracy and the rule of law.
Trade Statistics
Denmark is connected by bridge to southern Sweden and shares a southern border with Germany. Slightly smaller than Vermont and New Hampshire combined, it also contains a cluster of 400 islands to the east. Denmark is considered a part of the Northern region of Europe known as Scandinavia, along with Norway and Sweden.
With a population of 6 million people and nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $412 billion (2024), the constitutional monarchy has been a member of the European Union since 1973. Denmark is a rich, modern society with state-of-the-art infrastructure and distribution systems, a highly skilled labor force and a central location that makes it an excellent distribution point for the Scandinavian, Northern European and Baltic markets.
Denmark is a firm advocate of liberal trade and investment policies and actively encourages foreign investment. More than 400 American subsidiaries are established in Denmark and there is a strong American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Denmark) with approximately 265 members.
U.S.-Denmark Trade
The United States is Denmark’s largest trading partner outside Europe, with about a 17.5% share of total Danish export trade in goods in 2024. Two-way trade in 2024 equaled $15.83 billion. The United States exported a total of $5.81 billion to Denmark, which was 44th in U.S export markets.
The top five exports were oil and gas ($1.38 billion), chemicals ($1.23 billion), transportation equipment ($819 million), computer and electronic products ($565 million), and non-electrical machinery ($324 million).
Imports from Denmark to the United States totaled $10.04 billion in 2024, ranking at 37th in U.S import markets. Key imports were chemicals ($3.56 billion), computer and electronic products ($1.68 billion), non-electrical machinery ($1.51 billion), processed foods ($661 million), and fabricated metal products ($535 million).
California-Denmark Trade
California is a top exporting state to Denmark. In 2024, Denmark was ranked 40th in California export markets, with total exports to Denmark coming in at $428 million. Top products were chemicals ($135 million), computer and electronic products ($110 million), beverages and tobacco products ($33 million), transportation equipment ($28 million), and agricultural products ($26 million).
Imports from Denmark equaled $696 million; the top five imports were computer and electronic products ($192 million), non-electric machinery ($108 million), chemicals ($107 million), processed foods ($85 million), and livestock and livestock products ($45 million).
Foreign Direct Investment
Foreign direct investment (FDI) from the U.S. in Denmark totaled $12.8 billion in 2023. In this same year, FDI from Denmark into the U.S. was $45 billion. Denmark has been ranked the fourth fastest growing source of FDI in the U.S with key industries being software and information technology (IT) services, renewable energy, transportation, industrial equipment, business services, and biotechnology. Denmark has provided around 48,300 jobs, invested $815 million in research and development, and expanded U.S. exports by $1.5 billion, according to SelectUSA.
In 2024, Denmark was the 22nd largest source of foreign-owned enterprises (FOEs) in California, providing 4,499 jobs through 165 establishments throughout the state amounting to $353 million in wages. Top sectors for Danish FOE were transportation/warehousing/utilities, manufacturing, education/health professional/business services, and retail trade (World Trade Center Los Angeles, 2025).
Denmark and the World
Denmark was ranked 35th in world imports and 34th in world export markets as of 2023, with total world exports being $136.07 billion and world imports totaling $126.40 billion. Like its Scandinavian counterparts, Denmark is a technologically advanced, high-income country with strong infrastructure.
Denmark has become one of the most ambitious countries in the world in combatting climate change, and works with other countries to encourage projects and initiatives to work toward more renewable and climate-friendly infrastructure. It has signed a handful of MoU’s with its trading partners and allies, including California. Denmark has signed on to climate actions such as the Methane Pledge and the Mission for Climate initiative (AIM4C).
Denmark is a member of NATO, the World Trade Organization, United Nations, World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Arctic Council.
More Information
Last year, Gov. Newsom welcomed delegations from Sweden and Norway and renewed climate partnerships with the two governments.
Crown Princess Opens Full-Time Swedish Consulate Office, Signs Climate Change Cooperation Letter with Governor
CalChamber, February 27, 2024
Norway & California Sign Agreements to Further Climate Collaboration
CalChamber Alert, April 19, 2024
Staff Contact: Susanne T. Stirling
