HiQ simplifies international free trade agreement

The Agadir Agreement aims to create a free trade area between Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, as well as increasing trade between the four signatories with the EU and the rest of the world.

‘This is Swedac’s biggest project and challenge ever, and we are proud to have the confidence of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The creation of a streamlined system solution for collaboration and communication is of the greatest significance to the result of the project,’ says Per Lundmark, Head of the International Development Division at Swedac.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has commissioned Swedac to establish the conditions required for the Agadir Agreement to be successful. Sida’s main objective is to help the countries to develop in the hope of reducing poverty in the region. Swedac has in turn brought in HiQ as a partner to determine what IT support in the collaboration should look like and how it should work.

‘We have developed a solution that really makes a big difference for a group that have been reliant on emails and USB sticks. Handling becomes smoother, turnarounds shorter and security increases. This will be a huge improvement,’ says Magnus Gudéhn, Managing Director of HiQ Stockholm.

Swedac is now building a top quality infrastructure around imports, exports, customs, regulations and laws – with systems and methods that promote consistency and unity in everything from safety requirements to the size and shape of products and services. In the Agadir project, the pilot areas are textiles and cables. The assignments have been initiated by the governments involved in the agreement, with ministries, standards organisations and accreditation organisations as users. The target audience comprises investors, exporters and producers.

‘This is an exciting assignment, in which HiQ is helping to make a difference by doing what we are best at – using technology to simplify and improve. Working, moving trade helps to boost prosperity and, in the long run, make daily life better and easier for everyone. We are proud to be a part of this,’ says Lars Stugemo, CEO and President of HiQ.

Swedac (Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment) is a state authority that has worked for the last 20 years to promote high, common standards for products and services, as well as how these should be assessed.