1 July 2025, Seville — The Alliance and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) have announced three new regional initiatives to accelerate trade reform through public-private partnership across Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region.
The announcement was made during a high-level meeting in Seville between John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Kjell Forsberg, Assistant Director General at Sida during the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.
These new initiatives represent a major step forward in the partnership between Sida and the Alliance. By leveraging the Alliance’s unique public-private model, they aim for pragmatic solutions based on private sector needs to reduce trade barriers, modernise and digitalise border operations, and foster more inclusive and sustainable economic growth across all three regions. The Alliance works both with local SMEs and global businesses, including two Swedish companies – H&M and IKEA.
As head of one of the Alliance’s three host organisations—alongside the World Economic Forum and the Center for International Private Enterprise—Mr Denton spoke on behalf of the Alliance in the engagement.
“ICC is proud to co-lead the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation,” said John W.H. Denton AO, ICC Secretary General. “These new regional initiatives underscore Sweden’s growing confidence in our public-private partnership model; an innovative, results-driven approach that demonstrates the important role that business can play in global development. By working together, we’re driving meaningful reform, unlocking trade potential, and creating real, local economic opportunity where it’s needed most.”
“Sida is excited about our enhanced partnership with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, which is in line with the Swedish government’s reform agenda to strengthen the links between development cooperation and trade and increased involvement of Swedish companies,” said Kjell Forsberg, Assistant Director General at Sida. “By expanding our partnership with the Alliance in Africa, MENA and Eastern Europe, Sweden is stepping up trade-related support and aims to contribute to concrete results for improved trade and business environment with active involvement of Swedish embassies in the regions.”
Accelerating EU Integration in Eastern Europe
In the Eastern Partnership region, the Alliance is rolling out a new Regional Window to fast-track trade reform and support closer alignment with European Union standards. Starting in Moldova and Armenia, the initiative will focus on areas such as enhancing border agency cooperation, streamlining cross-border agri-food trade, reducing duplicative processes and improving interagency coordination. Projects will lay the groundwork for stronger institutions, resilient supply chains, and deeper regional integration.
Boosting Agricultural Trade in Africa
In Africa, the Alliance will support a selected group of countries in digitalising the exchange of e-certificates, associated with the import and export of plants and plant products. This effort, launched in collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aims to lower compliance costs, eliminate administrative delays, and enhance traceability across borders.
Strengthening Reform Momentum in MENA
The MENA region has an untapped potential for trade growth. By establishing a MENA regional widow, the partnership will identify and deliver a portfolio of trade facilitation projects contributing to the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. Activities will focus on strategic areas such as interagency coordination, digitalisation of border processes and regulatory reform—drawing on the Alliance’s experience and strong in-country presence, and driven by private sector needs as well as stakeholder consultations in the region.
“This is a natural next step in a strong and growing partnership,” said Philippe Isler, Alliance Director. “With Sweden’s backing, we’re broadening our footprint and helping more governments deliver reforms that make trade simpler, faster, and more inclusive – benefiting business, particularly small business.”
A Shared Vision for Inclusive Growth
All three regional windows combine Sida’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable development with the Alliance’s proven public-private partnership model. The projects will emphasise local ownership, transparency, and measurable impact—supporting not just better trade flows, but more resilient institutions.
By digitalising trade processes and reducing border inefficiencies, the initiatives will contribute to regional integration, promote food security, and improve market access for producers and traders, with a special focus on SMEs across Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and MENA.