Benjamin Dousa

On Monday 17 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa visited Uganda’s crisis centre – which is established in the event of major disease outbreaks – in response to the ongoing spread of the Ebola virus in the country. Sweden is providing SEK 20 million to Uganda’s Ebola response, to be channelled through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

On 17–19 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is travelling to Uganda. Mr Dousa will visit the north-western part of the country, where Sweden supports host communities that receive refugees.

On 13 March, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Stockholm. The aim was to deepen cooperation in trade, investment and regional and global issues. Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard hosted the visit, which was a significant step in strengthening ties between the two countries.

The protracted conflict in Syria has created a severe humanitarian crisis. Two thirds of the population – around 17 million people – are considered in need of humanitarian support. The Government is therefore increasing its humanitarian support to Syria by a total of SEK 120 million, to be distributed between the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Today, 13 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has announced that Sweden will increase development assistance to Ukraine by more than SEK 1.4 billion with the aim of strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and recovery.

The European Commission has completed negotiations with South Korea on a digital trade agreement. The Commission’s negotiating mandate was adopted during the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023. The agreement helps to promote trade between the EU and South Korea and benefits Swedish companies and Swedish consumers.

In light of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Government has approved a new support package of SEK 300 million to address the acute needs of the civilian population. The support is to be distributed to the UN Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Development Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Growing political opposition around the world to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), especially abortion, risks having extremely serious consequences for women and girls. The Government has therefore approved an additional SEK 75 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The Government has instructed Sida to stop all direct governmental agency cooperation with Georgia. This comes in response to the serious deterioration of the democratic situation in the country.

Sweden will contribute an additional SEK 100 million to Ukraine via the World Bank. The support, which will help the reconstruction and upcoming necessary infrastructure projects, was presented during World Bank President’s visit to Stockholm on 6–7 March.

Speech by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa at Join Sweden Summit 19 February 2025. Check against delivery.

More than 600 leading Swedish and international companies, investors and decision-makers gathered in Stockholm on 19 February for the Join Sweden Summit, the Government’s international investment conference that set a new attendance record this year. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hosted the conference.

The Government is providing SEK 9 million in support to the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden over a period of three years. The support will contribute to preserving and enhancing Ukrainian cultural heritage and provide a platform for Ukrainian culture outside Ukraine. The funding will enable Ukrainian artists to continue to work beyond the reach of Russian attacks.

On Wednesday 19 February, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is hosting the Join Sweden Summit 2025, bringing together more than 600 international and Swedish companies, investors and decision makers. HRH Prince Daniel will open the conference and a number of Government ministers are also participating.

On 13 February, the Government decided to task the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) with deploying observers to EU Election Observation Missions in 2025. Sweden’s participation will help enhance the conditions for free and fair elections. This is an important part of Sweden’s efforts to promote democracy, particularly in light of growing democratic backsliding across the globe.

The new support – totalling SEK 100 million – is expected to be channelled into Moldova’s energy vulnerability fund, which assists vulnerable households in managing elevated energy costs following the Russian Gazprom’s halting of its gas supplies. SEK 200

On 10–11 February, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is visiting Moldova to hold discussions about the energy situation following Russia’s Gazprom suspending its gas supplies.

On 4 February Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin received the Republic of Moldova’s Minister of Defence Anatolie Nosatîi at Karlberg Palace.

The Government has amended the conditions and expanded the framework for special export credit guarantees for doing business with Ukraine. The aim is to enable more businesses to export to Ukraine and thus contribute to the country’s sustainable reconstruction. It should now also be possible to offer guarantees with longer maturities, higher coverage and that cover services. The amendments to the regulation took effect on 1 February. The Government has also expanded the existing framework of SEK 333 million to SEK 555 million. In total, guarantees can be offered to a maximum of SEK 888 million.

On 23–24 January, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa will receive UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who is visiting Stockholm. His agenda includes a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Swedish civil society organisations and Swedish companies working with humanitarian issues. Discussions will focus on the humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria and Sudan.