Swedish parliamentarian Mr Gustaf Hoffstedt visited the Legislative Buildings on Thursday March 8 where he was welcomed by the Speaker of the House of Keys, the Hon Steve Rodan SHK.

Mr Hoffstedt, together with his political adviser Mr Carl Dahlin, had travelled from Gibraltar the previous day as part of a visit to jurisdictions successfully engaging in the egaming industry. Against this background they, together with Mr Henrik Hedqvist, an Isle of Man resident whose company assists Swedish businesses with setting up in the Island, were introduced to Mr Speaker by Mr Alex Downie OBE MLC who, in his capacity as Department of Economic Development political member with responsibility for e-gaming, had accompanied the three visitors to a meeting with Economic Development Minister, Hon John Shimmin MHK, and departmental officials. Mr Downie was also able to effect introductions to a Manx e-gaming operator during Mr Hoffstedt’s 24-hour visit.

Greeting his Swedish guests Mr Speaker referred to the Isle of Man’s Scandinavian ancestry and offered an historical insight into the Manx parliamentary system, prompting Mr Hoffstedt to express a wish to coincide any future visit with the Tynwald Day ceremony.

The visit to the Legislative Buildings concluded with a private tour of the Chambers, during which Mr Hoffstedt was interested to learn of Tynwald’s tricameral structure, the Riksdag having become a unicameral assembly in 1971.

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Pictured: The Speaker of the House of Keys Hon Steve Rodan MHK welcoming Mr Hoffstedt in the Speaker’s Room. (Photo: Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal)

For further information contact:
Office of the Clerk of Tynwald
Telephone: 01624 685500
Email: enquiries@tynwald.org.im
Website: www.tynwald.org.im