Photo: University of Gothenburg

Claes was professor of international economic geography at the Centre for International Business Studies, Department of Business Administration, School of Business Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg. He had also been working at Stockholm School of Economics and Hanken School of Economics. Claes was one of the pioneers in Area Studies both for research and education, where he early on came to realize the importance of East and Southeast Asia. Claes have been a long-term friend of the European Institute of Japanese Studies (EIJS) since the start almost 30 years ago. With his keen interest in EU-Japan trade relations, he has actively been involved in many of the Stockholm Seminars on Japan. Claes will be missed and remembered as a warm and engaged friend and colleague. 

/Patrik Ström and Marie Söderberg