Multilateral development banks and the UN system are among the world’s largest procurers of solutions for sustainable development. Every year, billions of dollars are invested in projects across sectors such as infrastructure, energy, transport, healthcare, and digitalisation to address global societal challenges. For Swedish companies, this means significant business opportunities – but also a market that can be difficult to enter without the right expertise, networks, and strategic positioning.
This is where Business Sweden turns complexity into opportunity.
Through our long-standing experience of working closely with actors such as the World Bank, regional development banks, and the UN system, Business Sweden helps Swedish companies translate complex regulatory frameworks and procurement processes into concrete business opportunities.
With our unique global presence, we maintain continuous dialogue with key actors within the multilateral system in Washington, D.C. and New York, with a strong focus on advancing Swedish priorities. Business Sweden plays an active role in engagements with the World Bank and its private‑sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, as well as with UN agencies such as UNDP, UN Women, and UNOPS through our local offices in both New York and Copenhagen. In addition, Business Sweden maintains ongoing dialogue with regional and thematic development banks across Latin America and Asia.
Our presence enables early intelligence gathering, insight into upcoming projects, and continuous positioning of Swedish areas of strength. Business Sweden engages financiers and procuring entities early in the process. This improves conditions for Swedish companies to compete for – and win – international contracts.
Our work begins long before a procurement is announced and continues all the way through to project implementation.
Business Sweden works proactively to identify upcoming projects, influence early-stage dialogues, and ensure that Swedish solutions are relevant and competitive when decisions are made. We support companies in strategic positioning, consortium building, and in navigating procurement requirements, financing structures, and local market conditions. Through our close collaboration with Team Sweden, we also act as a project coordinator by bringing together authorities, embassies, and financing actors to create a coordinated and impactful value proposition.
Lowering barriers – increasing precision
Business Sweden acts as a strategic influencing partner for Sweden and Swedish companies in complex international business environments. Through early engagement, long‑term relationships, and structured dialogue with decision-makers, procuring entities, and financiers, we help shape projects to meet both local needs and international standards while ensuring that Swedish solutions are relevant and competitive.
We engage early in project development, before opportunities are fully defined. This reduces uncertainty and increases the likelihood that the right actors and solutions are matched with the right projects. In doing so, Business Sweden helps shape the conditions for future business, benefiting both Swedish companies and the long‑term development of partner countries.
The result is more Swedish companies winning contracts in international projects, strengthening their global presence, and contributing solutions that deliver long‑term impact – both commercially and societally. At the same time, we help ensure that projects are implemented in line with international standards, with high quality, transparency, and consideration for people and the environment.
For Swedish companies, this provides a clear shortcut into an otherwise complex and difficult‑to‑navigate market. For partner countries, it means better projects, stronger capacity, and sustainable results over time.
Learn more about our work within the multilateral system here: Multilateral procurement and the UN – Business Sweden And read more about the UN agencies here: UN procurement – Business Sweden