This initiative could cut the cost of global trade by 25%

Despite powering more than half of the world's GDP and lifting a billion people out of poverty, international trade remains stubbornly complex, costly and paper-based. There is an urgent need to harness the power of TradeTech to modernize how trade works.

May marked a major milestone in addressing this challenge: the launch of the Trade Worldwide Information Network (TWIN) Foundation, a new, not-for-profit initiative dedicated to making global trade seamless, efficient and inclusive.

The timing could not be more critical. Every day, an estimated 4 billion paper documents circulate to support global trade. A single cross-border transaction involves the exchange of 36 documents and 240 copies among up to 30 different stakeholders. This complexity creates significant barriers, especially for small businesses and developing economies.

The economic impact of this complexity is substantial. The World Economic Forum estimates that digital trade facilitation could reduce trade costs by up to 25%, potentially unlocking $10 trillion in new trade value globally.

For Africa, where intra-continental trade remained at just 15% of total exports in 2024 according to the Africa Trade Report, digital infrastructure could be transformative. By reducing paperwork, streamlining customs processes and increasing transparency, digital solutions like TWIN can help realize the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

TWIN is the result of a unique TradeTech collaboration between the Tony Blair Institute, TradeMark Africa, IOTA Foundation, the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and the World Economic Forum.

Unlike previous commercial platforms that failed due to concerns over neutrality and data sovereignty, TWIN offers a fundamentally different approach:

Following this model, TWIN will transform global trade by:

Democratizing access. By reducing costs and complexity, TWIN will enable small businesses, particularly in developing economies, to participate in global trade on more equal footing.

Enhancing transparency. The immutable, traceable nature of DLT will reduce fraud and errors, building trust between trading partners and regulatory authorities. It will also make trade seamless and simpler.

Accelerating sustainability. Paperless trade does not just save time and money. It also reduces the environmental footprint of global commerce, supporting broader sustainability goals.

TWIN's journey began in East Africa, where TradeMark Africa and the IOTA Foundation piloted the Trade and Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP).

By digitizing trade documents and connecting exporters, logistics firms and government agencies, TLIP has already demonstrated significant benefits. These included customs clearance times being reduced from weeks to days, trade costs cut by up to 30% and Kenyan flower exporters accessing European markets faster and with fewer errors and consignment rejections.

TradeMark Africa's leadership has been instrumental in this effort, driven by their belief that the future of trade lies in speed, trust and seamless connectivity. For Africa specifically, TWIN promises to support trade that is faster, smarter and capable of scaling to new heights.

In the UK, TWIN has been trialled by government departments and border authorities as part of the Ecosystem of Trust initiative, demonstrating its ability to streamline data capture and enhance border efficiency.

TWIN is not just a technology; it is a growing ecosystem facilitating projects addressing different aspects of global trade:

The Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade brings world-leading expertise in customs and international trade to this partnership, helping establish an interoperable data pipeline that transforms cross-border trade and supply chains.

The TWIN Foundation will be headquartered in Switzerland, with a mission to:

In 2025, TWIN's open-source technology will be made available to the public, enabling even more organizations to build on this shared digital backbone.

From the Tony Blair Institute's perspective, TWIN represents far more than a technology project. It is about creating crucial linkages between the private and public sectors with technology providers. The ultimate goal is transformative: making trade significantly cheaper, faster and simpler for millions of businesses while dramatically improving accessibility for all market participants. The potential impact of TWIN in Africa is huge.

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation sees tremendous potential in TWIN's ability to drive greater trust and transparency across borders – elements that are critically needed in today's international trade environment.

The launch of the TWIN Foundation is just the beginning. We invite governments, businesses and ecosystem builders to join us in creating a future where global trade is simpler, faster and fairer for all.

To learn more, visit twin.org and follow TWIN on LinkedIn, YouTube and X. For technical users and developers, twindev.org provides detailed documentation and open-source resources powering the TWIN infrastructure.

Frank Matsaert and Tim Stekkinger both serve as members of the TWIN Foundation Board, supporting its mission to build an open, inclusive and interoperable digital infrastructure for global trade.