Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health, has become the latest international business to partner with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation.
“We are pleased to join the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation,” said Thibaud Lefort, the Head of Operations of Sanofi Global Health Unit. “Sanofi’s work is driven by the clear ambition to do innovative science to develop breakthrough medicines and vaccines, and this partnership further strengthens our efforts to get them to the people who need them most.”
France-based Sanofi, a public company founded in 1973, is working to improve people’s lives by providing potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions globally. It has more than 100,000 employees in 100 countries.
As part of a new corporate social responsibility strategy launched last year, Sanofi committed to improving access to healthcare for vulnerable communities by providing 40 of the world’s poorest countries access to 30 essential medicines.
That vision is well-aligned with the Alliance’s efforts to ensure the smooth and rapid movement of crucial medicines and medical supplies across borders by eliminating outdated border processes, which can delay these vital shipments, sometimes for weeks. For example, the Alliance is supporting Mozambican health agencies to cut red tape slowing the importation of vaccines and HIV/malaria test kits.
Sanofi joins a growing roster of Alliance business partners, including some of the world’s largest manufacturers, retailers, and logistics firms. These companies share the Alliance’s commitment to fully implementing the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which makes cross-border trade simpler, faster, and more cost-effective.
As multinational companies involved in the global movement of goods, our business partners know first-hand where today’s barriers to trade lie. That insight makes them well-positioned to provide expertise to Alliance projects that identify and remove burdensome red tape that all traders face when moving their goods across borders. These initiatives benefit businesses of all sizes but are especially helpful to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are disproportionately impacted by costly delays and complex, paper-based processes.
“We are excited to welcome Sanofi as a partner,” said Philippe Isler, the Alliance’s Director. “Their expertise will help provide a unique and valuable perspective on the challenges to global trade, particularly in the healthcare sector. As we expand our portfolio of health-related projects, Sanofi’s collaboration will greatly enhance our ability to design innovative and effective trade facilitation solutions.”