Business Sweden

What Business Sweden does

Business Sweden (The Swedish Trade & Invest Council, legally Sveriges Export- och investeringsråd) is a government-commissioned public-private organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Stockholm. It operates under a dual mandate from the Swedish Government and Swedish industry: helping Swedish companies grow global sales and supporting international companies that wish to invest or expand in Sweden. The organization employs 501–1,000 staff and maintains a physical office network spanning more than 40 markets across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa, integrated with Swedish embassies through the Team Sweden network.

Its service portfolio is organized around two pillars: "Expand Globally" (export advisory, strategic and geopolitical advisory, trade facilitation, delegations and trade fairs, SME programmes including Catalyst and Export Project) and "Invest in Sweden" (Join Sweden campaign, site selection support, online tools such as Site Finder, Compare Sweden, and International Trade Comparison). It also produces annual Business Climate Surveys across 40+ markets, whitepapers, guides, and Executive Global Insights, and runs sector-specific initiatives in life science, energy and batteries, transport, industrials, digital technologies, and consumer goods. Pricing is not commercial; services are delivered under a public-private commission rather than fee-for-service transactions.

Recent strategic activity through 2024–2026 has emphasized AI and digital technologies, cleantech, healthcare innovation, and critical minerals, with new bilateral initiatives including the Sweden-India AI Corridor (SITAC) with IndiaAI Mission, the AI Gothenburg hub with NVIDIA and Business Region Göteborg, the Global Health Innovation Network (GHIN) with AstraZeneca, Ericsson, NUHS and Sahlgrenska, and participation in the Future Minerals Forum in Saudi Arabia. A new Lima office opened in November 2025, extending Latin American presence.

Name

Business Sweden

Legal name

Business Sweden (The Swedish Trade & Invest Council)

Website

https://business-sweden.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Business Sweden is a government-commissioned trade and investment council that helps Swedish companies expand internationally and supports foreign companies investing in Sweden, operating across 40+ markets with advisory, trade facilitation, and research services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade and Investment Promotion Services

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Facilitation & Customs Modernization (BPADAMAB), Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)

Keywords

• Trade promotion services
• Investment advisory
• Export consulting
• Market entry services
• Foreign direct investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Business Sweden provides trade and investment promotion services under a dual mandate from the Swedish Government and Swedish industry. It helps Swedish companies grow global sales through strategic advisory, market entry support, partner identification, trade facilitation, export training, and trade delegations, while assisting international companies to invest and expand in Sweden via site selection, investor services, and government facilitation. Services are delivered through a global office network spanning 40+ markets, supported by digital tools and research publications.

Product overview

Business Sweden operates as a unified service platform offering trade and investment promotion services rather than a software product. The organization provides a comprehensive portfolio of advisory, facilitation, and research services organised around two core mandates: helping Swedish companies expand globally (Expand Globally) and supporting international companies invest in Sweden (Invest in Sweden). Key service offerings include Business Support Services, Strategic Advisory, Trade Facilitation (including export guides and courses), Delegations & Trade Fairs, Geopolitical Advisory, and SME programmes (Export Advisory, Export Project, Catalyst). The portfolio also includes digital tools (International Trade Comparison, Compare Sweden, Site Finder), published research (Business Climate Surveys across 40+ markets, Whitepapers & Guides, Executive Global Insights), events (Calendar with seminars, courses, delegations), and industry-specific initiatives such as the Try Swedish food export programme and Join Sweden investment attraction campaign. The services are delivered through a network of offices in Sweden and over 40 markets worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Support Services
• Business to Government Services
• Export Advisory
• Export Project
• Catalyst Programme
• Strategic Advisory
• Geopolitical Advisory
• Trade Facilitation
• Delegations & Trade Fairs
• Online Tools (International Trade Comparison, Compare Sweden, Site Finder)
• Try Swedish Programme
• Join Sweden
• UN Procurement Support

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Swedish Embassy in the PhilippinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026Partnership with DOLE organizing a forum in the Philippines focused on occupational safety and health challenges. Alimak presented solutions for reducing workplace accidents related to working at heights.
• Embassy of Sweden in VietnamcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2026Co-released the Business Climate Survey 2026 with Business Sweden based on responses from 33 Swedish companies operating in Vietnam.
• India-Sweden Innovations Accelerator (ISIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Hosted 27th workshop with Swedish cleantech delegation in Hyderabad, bringing together about 40 companies and seven leading Swedish cleantech companies to showcase solutions in energy efficiency, smart grids, IoT-enabled systems, and clean mobility.
• NVIDIAcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 March 2026NVIDIA serves as technology partner for AI Gothenburg, a new public-private hub aimed at making Gothenburg the Nordic epicenter for starting and scaling AI-driven companies. The initiative will provide a collaborative environment where early-stage founders can develop, validate, and deploy applied AI solutions with industry partners.
• Business Region GöteborgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Partner in AI Gothenburg hub initiative alongside NVIDIA, Business Sweden, and leading Swedish industries to establish a Nordic epicenter for AI-driven companies.
• IndiaAI MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Signed Statement of Intent to establish the Sweden-India Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor (SITAC), a dedicated bilateral cooperation programme for AI and digital technologies. The corridor facilitates structured engagement among government agencies, industry stakeholders, startups and academic institutions through conferences, seminars, workshops and field visits.
• Business Sweden TaiwanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 January 2026Co-organised the Nordic-Taiwan Sustainable Energy Forum in Taipei in December 2025, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss energy resilience and support Swedish companies like Minesto.
• Future Minerals Forum 2026coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 January 2026Participating at the Future Minerals Forum 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a country pavilion alongside five mining equipment companies: ABB, Atlas Copco, Epiroc, Sandvik, and Scania. Supporting EU's critical minerals strategy and Saudi Arabia's mining sector transformation.
• Nordic Nigeria ConnectminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 November 2025Fourth business forum edition organized by four Nordic embassies in Nigeria with support from Business Finland, Business Sweden, and the Danish Trade Office.
• AstraZenecacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Partnership through the Global Health Innovation Network (GHIN) coalition with National University Health System (NUHS) and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The partnership aims to identify, implement, and scale health innovations in screening, diagnosis, and monitoring.
• EricssoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Partner in Global Health Innovation Network (GHIN) coalition providing 5G connectivity technology to address global challenges of technology implementation in healthcare alongside AstraZeneca, hospitals and industry partners.
• National University Health System (NUHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Partner in Global Health Innovation Network (GHIN) coalition providing clinical expertise and hospital resources for prototype testing in healthcare innovation.
• Sahlgrenska University HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Partner in Global Health Innovation Network (GHIN) coalition providing clinical expertise and hospital resources for prototype testing in healthcare innovation.
• Sweden–Việt Nam Health Innovation InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Strategic sectoral partnership on science, innovation, and digital transformation. The Sweden–Việt Nam Health Innovation Symposium brings together policymakers, hospital leaders, researchers, and innovators to advance Vietnam's transition toward preventive, digital, and sustainable healthcare.
• CII–Sohrabji Godrej Green Business CentrecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership implementing the Indo-Swedish cleantech workshop in Hyderabad alongside Business Sweden and the Swedish Energy Agency.
• Swedish Energy AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting Swedish cleantech companies through the Global Innovation Accelerator programme and workshop initiatives in India.

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Business Finland: Finland's national trade and investment promotion agency. Most direct peer as a Nordic counterpart with the same government-commissioned mandate to promote Finnish exports and attract FDI to Finland, operating with similar service portfolio and global office network.
• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany's federal trade and investment promotion agency. Direct peer operating the same export promotion and FDI attraction model with similar services (market intelligence, partner identification, location consulting) for a larger European economy.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore's government agency for trade and enterprise development. Direct peer with comparable services for SME internationalization, export promotion, and foreign investment attraction, operating in many of the same Asia-Pacific markets as Business Sweden.
• Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC): Hong Kong's statutory body promoting trade in goods and services. Direct peer operating global offices to connect businesses with Asian markets, organizing trade fairs and missions - functions that overlap directly with Business Sweden's delegations and trade fairs.
• Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA): Dutch agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs focused on attracting foreign direct investment. Comparable FDI-focused mandate with site selection, partner identification, and aftercare services that mirror Business Sweden's Invest in Sweden offering.
• Department for Business and Trade (UK): UK government department promoting British exports and inward investment. Comparable export advisory, trade missions, and investment promotion services with global office network, serving similar client base of internationally-active companies.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish government agency supporting Irish enterprise internationalization. Direct peer offering comparable SME export support, market entry advisory, and FDI-related services, with similar scale and government-private sector mandate.
• Invest in Canada: Canadian government's inward investment promotion agency. Comparable mandate of attracting FDI, offering site selection, market intelligence, and partner connections - functions directly parallel to Business Sweden's Invest in Sweden campaign.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company: Global management consulting firm. While a commercial competitor, McKinsey serves many of the same clients (Swedish corporates, international investors) with overlapping strategic advisory and market entry services - a broader incumbent in adjacent consulting space.
• International Trade Centre (ITC): UN-WHO joint agency supporting SME internationalization in developing economies. Operates in adjacent export promotion and trade development space with similar services (market intelligence, trade facilitation, SME support), though focused on a different segment of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/businesssweden
• Facebookfacebook.com/businesssweden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2891929

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Business Sweden