International procurement is a growing business area, and Sweden is one of the leading contributing countries in this area. Business Sweden is responsible for the coordinated effort to support Swedish companies and organisations with an interest in procurement, financed by multilateral development organisations. Working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies around the world, we focus especially on emerging markets in Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
The export strategy of the Swedish Government has a strong focus on business opportunities from international procurement opportunities. To make the most of these opportunities, Business Sweden has created and implemented a dedicated action plan.
Projects for the United Nations and multilateral organisations
Natural disasters and violent conflicts cause suffering all over the world. The current global investment in humanitarian support is worth several billions of Swedish crowns. Making these solutions more efficient and sustainable can really make a difference in the lives of many people worldwide.
The UN, other organisations and governments support initiatives all around the world to promote and build a better world. The UN both responds to acute humanitarian needs and proactively promotes peace and security, human rights, and economic and social development for a better standard of living, democracy and equality as well as international relations. The UN's assignment is of great importance to sustainable global development.
In addition to several UN organisations, multilateral organisations such as the international development banks, the World Bank and other bilateral donors also support and execute projects. These are mostly aimed to mitigate the effects of climate change and natural disasters. The projects mainly support international organisations, country authorities and provinces that receive funding for initiatives in the field of climate adaptation and disaster management.
Projects for the European Union
The European Commission is an important organisation that offers funding to development projects and procurement. As one of the EU institutions that manages the EU budget, it is primarily responsible for project financing and coordination of aid and support for new member states. The Commission offers support in stimulating employment, combating poverty and social exclusion, supporting climate change and sustainable energy supply, and promoting research and education.
The EU provides support to many sectors around the world, from infrastructure, transport, energy and telecommunications to healthcare and security. The funds are distributed through different financing tools. This includes the EU's external aid programs for developing countries and funds that focus on the EU internal market. Such projects can fund new roads in Africa or support environmentally smart solutions in Poland.
There are plenty of opportunities for Swedish companies to participate in EU-funded procurement projects, either as an individual company or as part of a consortium. Swedish authorities, non-profit organisations and private companies can also apply for EU-funded investments in Sweden. This means that EU-funded procurement projects are also available for Swedish companies that haven’t gone abroad yet.
How we can help
Business Sweden has created well-established relationships with different UN bodies and multilateral organisations as well as several departments within the European Commission in Brussels. We help Swedish companies by monitoring relevant and upcoming procurements, by analysing business opportunities and decision-making processes and by identifying suitable partners to form consortiums. We also organise tailored activities and delegations to relevant organisations and conferences.
Contact our experts in our office in The Hague to discuss your opportunities in EU-funded projects.
