Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
30
2.2.1.1. Membership
SWEPRO’s membership is open and includes representatives of business and the public authorities –
i.e., three representatives of the public sector appointed by government with a three year mandate
and three business representatives.
Participants in SWEPRO are senior (i.e., experts/heads of division). SWEPRO is composed of the
following public agencies:
 National Board of Trade;
 Swedish Customs;
 Business Sweden;
 Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions; and
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Its composition also includes the following private associations:
 Swedish Trade Association;
 Swedish Bankers’ Association;
 Swedish International Chamber of Commerce (ICC);
 Swedish International Freight Association; and
 Network for Electronic Business.
2.2.1.2. Institutional structure
SWEPRO was a legal entity until 2009. It is currently an informal forum administered by/located
within the National Board of Trade.
The SWEPRO secretariat, hosted by The National Board of Trade, coordinates and actively
participates, among others, in the intergovernmental efforts to simplify, harmonize and if possible
remove unnecessary procedures and information flows in international trade. Work is conducted at
both global and national levels.46
SWEPRO comprises of three staff members who are also trade facilitation analysts at the National
Board of Trade. With respect to its terms of reference, SWEPRO has a running one-year programme.
The full forum meets three to four times annually on ad hoc basis. The forum may also decide to form
project-related working groups that may meet more frequently. Indeed, it is common for special task
forces and working groups to be established ad hoc to examine specific issues.
46 Consulted