The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation: A decade of sustainable impact
The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation makes international trade simpler, faster and more cost-effective. Image: Getty Images
- Since 2015, the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) has generated over $200 million in trade cost savings – an average 240% return on donor investment – through 36 projects in more than 20 countries.
- GATF’s results highlight the strength of its public-private partnership model, uniting governments, global companies and smaller local enterprises to co-design practical trade reforms.
- GATF projects use trade facilitation to drive economic growth, while advancing inclusion, resilience and sustainable development, bolstering food security, climate action and humanitarian supply chains.
A decade of facilitating inclusive trade
Improving food security, public health and responding to humanitarian crises – these are just some global priorities supported by efficient trade systems.
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, signed in 2013, created a global mandate to make trade simpler, faster and more transparent.
Two years later, the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) was launched to turn directive into real-world reform through a partnership model that places governments, the private sector and development actors on equal footing.
Ten years on, that founding idea has proven transformative: agile, practical and grounded in real business experience.
By bringing together industry leaders including Cisco, DHL, IKEA, Maersk and Walmart alongside policymakers and border agencies, GATF’s projects are operationally informed, ensuring practical solutions.
On its 10th anniversary, GATF’s impact speaks for itself:
- 36 projects in more than 20 countries, streamlining border processes.$200 million in trade cost savings.
- Engagement with over 550 business associations and 1,500 micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
- 240% return on donor investment through measurable reductions in trade costs.
Alongside quantified trade cost savings GATF delivers broader development outcomes, including institutional strengthening, regulatory transparency and long-term competitiveness gains. The results also reflect the sustained commitment of funding partners – including the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, the European Union (EU) and Sweden – whose support has enabled more countries to benefit from effective trade facilitation.
By working with GATF, we are helping to create trade environments that are efficient, fairer and more sustainable. Supporting these reforms enables businesses – especially in developing countries – to participate more fully in the global economy.
”Trade reform as a driver of economic growth and competitiveness
Trade facilitation is a powerful lever for development and economic growth – especially in low- and middle-income countries. Efficient, predictable border systems allow businesses to expand, attract investment, diversify exports and create jobs.
For women-led and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), reduced administration, time and cost at the border can determine their viability for international markets.
Over the past decade, these growth-oriented reforms have also delivered significant other development benefits, including:
- Food security, by enabling agricultural goods to move across borders faster, safer and at lower cost
- Public health, through faster clearance of medical supplies
- Humanitarian aid and crisis response, by streamlining supply chains for critical goods
For example, its collaboration with UNICEF has helped life-saving health supplies reach vulnerable populations faster.
These reforms create long-term structural benefits. Once digital systems, risk-based controls or streamlined procedures are established, they generate annual savings, supporting national competitiveness and sustainable development goals.
Our partnership with GATF sets new standards for how we leverage collaboration and technology to cut through the delays and barriers that hamper the delivery of life-saving supplies.
A public-private model that delivers
In more than 20 countries across four continents, GATF’s model has made border processes more predictable, transparent and trustworthy, while saving time and money. Success stories from 2025 include:
Digitalizing key trade processes in Jordan
Certificates of Origin verify a shipment’s country of origin.
GATF worked with the Jordanian government and private sector to establish a web-based system for issuing and verifying electronic certificates of origin (eCOs), digitalizing a manual process, thereby cutting red tape and streamlining for cost, efficiency and consistency gains.
Empowering regional value chains in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic’s strategic location and robust Free Trade Zone (FTZ) network make it an ideal hub for regional commerce. Yet many local businesses struggled to leverage its economic advantage.
GATF worked with public and private sector actors to connect MSMEs to buyers through matchmaking events. Mentorship programmes, built MSME export capacity and facilitated trade compliance by helping them acquire “authorised economic operator” status.
Building small business export capacity in Malawi
GATF partnered with the Malawi Revenue Authority, Ministry of Trade and Industry and private sector actors to train and mentor over 100 MSMEs – 87% women-led – on export processes, while promoting gender inclusion and peer learning.
It also launched a digital HS Classification and Tariff Tool to improve compliance and created a public-private platform to align reforms with national and African Continental Free Trade Area priorities.
“When women are empowered, they can better care and provide for their children; when these children are healthy, they will be able to thrive at school, to find well-paid work afterwards to support their families. Ultimately, the entire country benefits...”
”A model built for the next decade of trade
Entering its second decade, GATF is expanding into Eastern Europe and the Middle East and North Africa to meet rising demand for business-driven trade reform.
It is also scaling its partnership with UNICEF to speed life-saving supplies and support African countries implement the International Plant Protection Convention ePhyto Solution for safer, more efficient agricultural trade.
These initiatives reflect evolving global trade priorities and the continued confidence of donors and private sector partners.
“Our aim to have a positive impact on people and the planet aligns with GATF’s focus on driving inclusive economic growth by supporting small businesses through reducing barriers to market access."
”Get involved.
GATF is interested in hearing from corporate partners in emerging markets.
GATF is part of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics, which brings together over 130 leading global companies with policymakers for action-oriented exchange on building resilient, sustainable and inclusive trade and investment.
It provides a platform for businesses of all sizes to participate in trade facilitation initiatives, streamlining border processes for all.
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