Through immigration people and cultures of the region have become part of the Swedish society. Today, around one out of fifty Swedes has a recent background from the Middle East and North Africa. Furthermore, since Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, Sweden also participates in the ongoing efforts towards closer co-operation between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours as expressed in  the Barcelona Declaration on the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

Sweden also has a long record of active engagement in issues of North-South relations, and of development co-operation with countries of the South. It was in this light that the Swedish government in 1997 initiated a study on the establishment of a Swedish Institute in Alexandria. The motive was to develop a means to increase broad contacts and co-operation with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, to facilitate dialogues on issues of common concern, and to contribute to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

The Swedish Institute Alexandria places strong emphasis on development cooperation, including education and research. We network teachers and scientists from all disciplines, including linguists, engineers, social scientists, medical doctors, archaeologists, peace researchers, economists, and environmentalists.

Cultural exchange is also part of our brief. Here, as in other areas, we follow closely the themes highlighted in the Barcelona process, giving priority to multilateral projects, involving groups of countries on both sides of the Mediterranean.

Interfaith dialogue is an important dimension of building trust between civilizations. Thus the Institute aims to be a meeting place for scholars from different religious traditions, specially Muslims and Christians.