Participants from across Sweden’s public and private sectors met in Stockholm this week for a roundtable discussion on the synergies between trade, development cooperation and economic growth.
Hosted jointly by the Alliance and the National Board of Trade Sweden, the event was titled ‘All aboard: Making Trade, Development and Growth Work Together’.
Participants included representatives from Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its International Development Agency (Sida), ICC Sweden, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), IKEA and H&M among others.
The discussion focused on the growing importance of efficient and predictable trade systems in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. Participants exchanged perspectives on the challenges businesses face today, including regulatory complexity, constrained market access and the need for more resilient supply chains.
The roundtable highlighted how measures to facilitate trade in developing countries can contribute both to improved development outcomes locally, and to increased trade opportunities and growth for Swedish business. Discussions also examined the role of collaboration between governments and the private sector in delivering on Sweden’s broader trade and development agenda.
The event reflected a shared commitment among participants to advancing open and predictable trade while fostering stronger international partnerships. By bringing together voices from across sectors, the roundtable provided an opportunity to identify practical pathways for making trade work more effectively for businesses, economies and communities alike.
In March 2026, The Alliance and the National Board of Trade Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in helping countries improve the way goods move across borders. The agreement enables the two organisations to draw on each other’s capacities by sharing lessons learned, providing technical expertise in each other’s projects and coordinating project activities.
