PRESS RELEASE 
 
PRESS/707 
3 December 2013 
 
(13-6611) 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
Sweden launches new trade facilitatio n training facility in Africa  
The government of Sweden announced on 3 December 2013 the launch of a new trade facilitation 
training facility in Arusha, Tanzania. The Swed ish government, through its development agency 
Sida, will provide an initial grant of approximately USD 1,600,000 (CHF 1,450,440) per year 
for 2014-2015.  
 
The WTO, the UN Conference on Trade and De velopment (UNCTAD), th e World Bank and the 
International Trade Centre (ITC), who expressed their support for the new facility at a press 
conference on 3 December, will participate in th e development and implementation of the training 
facility and its forthcoming training programmes. Sweden and Tanzania would also welcome other 
donors and relevant agencies to collaborate with the training facility in the future.  
  
The facility will provide training for participants from Africa, with a special focus on least-developed 
countries (LDCs). The training activities will support participating countries in implementing a 
future WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, which aims to reduce bottlenecks and improve 
procedures for the flow of goods across borders.  The facility responds to the need for better 
coordinated and targeted training for government officials in Africa.  
  
The facility will also provide a platform for African government officials and customs officers to 
exchange experiences.   
“The Trade Facilitation Agreement represents huge potential gains for developing countries. The 
facility will help African countries unlock this potential and is yet another confirmation of Sweden’s 
commitment to Aid for Trade,” said the Swedish Minister for Trade, Dr Ewa Björling. 
 
“Trade facilitation is an indispensable and necessary step to helping LDCs to integrate into the 
global economy. Through this facility, the govern ments of Sweden and Tanzania will ensure that 
LDCs receive training and capacity-building in this area. I welcome this donation,” WTO 
Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said. 
 
Further voices of support at the press conference were:  
Mr Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, said: “Our partnership with Sweden to grow 
African trade facilitation through a training centre  of excellence in Arusha represents the welcome 
confluence of Swedish innovativeness and UNCTAD’s  desire to have a more prominent footprint 
in Africa. I am happy to be party to this important initiative.” PRESS/707 
Page 2 of 2 
 
 
 Ms Arancha González, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC): “ITC welcomes 
Sweden's initiative in investing in TRAPCA and we stand ready to support the countries and small 
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the regi on in building up the necessary capacity and 
knowledge on trade facilitation procedures.” 
 
Mr Christophe Joseph Marie Dabi ré, Commissioner for Regional Markets, Trade, Competition and 
Cooperation of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), said: “I welcome the 
initiative to create a trade facilitation training centre in Africa. This project will greatly contribute to 
strengthening the capacity of experts from all the African regions. I am glad that there is strong 
collaboration between TRAPCA and West African countries, allowing the latter to benefit from the 
centre's training activities." 
 "By implementing WTO Trade-Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) with regional partners, there is 
a better chance for coordinated activities and a balance in the way the workload and costs are 
shared between the WTO and its partners leading to improved TRTA results," Ms Bridget Chilala, Director of the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) said. 
 
From TRAPCA and ESAMI:  
Peter Kiuluku, Executive Director of TRAPCA : “At TRAPCA we believe that training and 
capacity-building in trade facilitation will help African countries and especially LDCs to take advantage of potential gains in both regional and multilateral agreements. All integration schemes 
require capacity-building to ensure human resource competencies are available to drive necessary 
institutional changes.”  
Prof Bonard Mwape, Director-General of the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute 
(ESAMI): “ESAMI is proud to host TRAPCA and any additional resources and facility that leads to skills development for LDCs is appreciated. On behalf of ESAMI member countries, I wish to 
commend Sweden, and its development agency Sida, for this gesture. ESAMI will provide TRAPCA 
with the necessary facilities to continue to serve Africa in the quest for beneficial integration into the multilateral trading system.” 
 
Background  The trade facilitation training facility will be part  of the Trade Policy Training Centre (TRAPCA) of 
the Eastern and Southern African Management Inst itute (ESAMI) in Arusha, Tanzania. TRAPCA was 
created in 2006 as a result of collaboration between  the ESAMI, Lund University and Sida. Sweden 
has regularly supported TRAPCA since its creation. 
  
For more information please contact:   
Joakim Reiter, Sweden’s Ambassador to the WTO, +41 79 358 3404, joakim.reiter@gov.se 
  
END