The Alliance and the National Board of Trade Sweden have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in helping countries improve the way goods move across borders.
The Alliance works with governments and businesses to simplify trade procedures in developing countries. Its projects aim to make border processes faster, more transparent and easier to navigate, helping businesses trade more efficiently and supporting economic growth.
The National Board of Trade Sweden is the Swedish government agency responsible for international trade, the EU internal market and trade policy. Its mission is to promote open trade governed by transparent rules.
The new agreement will enable the two organisations to draw on each other’s expertise and capacities by continuing to share lessons learned, provide technical expertise in each other’s projects, and coordinate project activities.
This initiative highlights the strong value both organisations place on exchanging insights and experience. For the Alliance, it represents an important opportunity to deepen collaboration with one of Sweden’s key trade institutions and to ensure that knowledge and expertise are shared in a way that strengthens impact on the ground.
The collaboration will primarily focus on areas of mutual interest such as the Eastern Partnership Region where the Alliance has a growing project portfolio before expanding to other countries.
By combining expertise and aligning efforts, the two partners aim to better support countries in modernising their trade systems and advancing trade facilitation reforms.
This agreement also marks a further step in the Alliance’s growing cooperation with Sweden. Through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Sweden supports a range of projects across the Alliance’s portfolio. These projects place strong emphasis on bringing together public and private actors to deliver practical reforms — engaging not only local businesses and government authorities, but also embassies, Swedish companies operating locally, and organisations such as the National Board of Trade.
Alliance Director Philippe Isler, said:
“Our work is about delivering practical improvements that make trade processes easier and more efficient. We see great value in partnering with the National Board of Trade to connect expertise and share insights in ways that help partner countries implement meaningful reforms.”
Anders Ahnlid, Director-General of the National Board of Trade Sweden, said:
“Well-functioning and transparent trade processes are essential for sustainable economic development. Through this cooperation with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, we look forward to exchanging knowledge and contributing to efforts that improve how trade works in practice.”
