Private Sector Engagement

Public-Private Partnership

Our Model

Public-private partnership lies at the heart of the Alliance. We make trade simpler, faster, and more cost-effective by working with developing countries, and the businesses trading with them.

We partner with around 50 multinational companies, chambers of commerce and MSMEs to identify, design, and implement projects that cut red tape, improve border processes and reduce the cost and complexity of cross-border trade. Our business partners support us with their time and experience — flagging supply chain challenges and helping us shape practical solutions that work on the ground.

Governments set the rules, but business drives trade. That’s why the Alliance provides a platform for both sides to work together as equal partners.

Our Global Business Partners

Why It Matters

The Benefits for Business

Relevant reforms addressing supply-chain challenges that businesses face.
Impact facilitated by local business networks, chambers of commerce, and associations who benefit from being directly engaged in shaping and testing solutions.
Increased trust with authorities and improved long-term relationships with agencies impacting cross-border movements.
Opportunity to share experiences and insights with a network of like-minded industry leaders through the Alliance Private Sector Working Group.
Collaboration not through a financial commitment, but through an exchange of expertise, tools and insights.

“Trade facilitation is extremely important to H&M. The Alliance operates in many of the low and middle-income countries where our products originate. Improving trade processes in these countries directly impacts our ability to move goods efficiently."

Nesli Al Mufti, Global Public Affairs Lead for Trade, Customs, and Investment

“Partnering with the Alliance enables us to collaborate with key stakeholders to reduce trade barriers, streamline customs procedures, and adopt best practices that benefit not only our operations but also the broader global business community."

Mahmut Kobal, Global Head of Customs and International Trade, Beiersdorf

“Inter IKEA Group is responsible for everything from forest to warehouse, including materials, product development and global supply chains, working with about 700 suppliers worldwide. Our aim to have a positive impact on people and planet aligns with the Alliance focus on driving inclusive economic growth by supporting small businesses through reducing barriers to market access."

Keika Lee, Director Public Affairs, Inter Ikea Group

“Participating in the Alliance goes far beyond the typical business involvement in many other initiatives. It’s more than attending events, adding our logo to materials or giving sponsorship money – our local UPS teams were sought out to take part in initial scoping missions, meeting with government agencies and local businesses to help identify issues at the border and develop targeted project proposals."

Amgad Shehata, Senior Vice President of International Public Affairs and Strategy at UPS

Collaboration in Action

How Businesses Contribute

We embed private sector expertise at every stage of a project — from scoping to delivery and measurement — ensuring reforms work in practice.

Our Global Business Partners can contribute to projects in up to three major ways.

Project Support: Helping to scope, shape and implement our projects by connecting us with local teams, sharing data, tools and process know how.
Governance: Guiding our strategy by joining our Steering Group or in country Project Steering Committees.
Ambassadorial: Championing trade facilitation in their networks — speaking at events, contributing thought pieces and amplifying impact.

Collaboration in Action

Our Private Sector Working Group

The Private Sector Working Group (PSWG) is the Alliance’s principal forum for engaging business at a global level. Meeting quarterly, it keeps members updated on projects, highlights opportunities to contribute, and provides a space for companies to share insights on key trade issues.

To complement the PSWG, the Alliance hosts industry-specific sub-groups where companies from the same sector can share experiences, identify common trade barriers, and set priorities. Led by our private sector partners, these groups provide a platform for industry experts to collaborate and help develop practical solutions for the Alliance to implement.

Food & Beverage: chaired by Mark FeDuke, Director of Risk Management and Regulatory Affairs, ArdoVLM.
Technology-Driven Industries: chaired by Stacy Dieve, Strategic Trade Manager, Global Tax and Customs, Cisco Systems (Alliance PSWG Chair).
Textiles & Retail: chaired by Bojan Duric, Senior Global Customs and Trade Advisor, IKEA Group.

An Inclusive Approach

Empowering MSMEs

Recognising that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) face distinct trade facilitation challenges, the Alliance works through local business networks to ensure their voices are represented. Our teams ensure MSME engagement in public–private dialogues, highilighting their priorities and sensitising public sector actors to the barriers they face.

The Alliance’s strong local and global private sector network—including national committees of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the supplier networks of global business partners—helps to amplify MSME perspectives and drive more inclusive reforms.

Business Engagment in Numbers

$213M

saved for traders across 25+ project countries

240%

return on investment

1,720

MSMEs engaged

global business partners engaged

556

chambers & associations connected