Strategic Sector Cooperation

“The Strategic Sector Cooperation project on water management in South Africa has given us a better understanding of the needs of the South African water sector. It is crucial to ensure that our solutions create value for our South African customers."

Country Manager of Kamstrup South Africa, Petrus Van Heerden

 

Strategic Sector Cooperation and the Danish private sector

In cooperation with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Danish line ministries, agencies and municipalities share their sector-specific competencies with 38 countries across the globe.
It springs from Denmark's strengths in sectors such as water, environment, energy, health, the maritime industry etc.
Sharing experiences and knowledge among equal peers about sector issues across countries is an important diplomatic platform.

The cooperation between authorities is divided into two main modalities:

1. an aid- and development-oriented modality with developing countries and emerging markets, where Danish authorities collaborate with their sister authorities in the countries to build up local capacity and develop framework conditions, share knowledge and experiences, establish networks, and in the long term open doors for Danish companies, and
2. a commercial- and export-oriented modality with high-income countries and selected emerging markets, where Danish authorities contribute to our economic diplomacy by building contacts with local authorities and gaining sector insights by sharing their experiences with similar issues and solutions in Denmark. This paves the way for commercial opportunities and trade for Danish companies. 

The sector counsellors work closely with the Danish Trade Council. Whilst the Trade Council offers assistance to specific companies, the sector counsellor works more broadly with creating opportunities, assisting with business intelligence, access etc. for Danish business in partner countries. The Strategic Sector Cooperation modality with the sector counsellor, the Danish Trade Council and the Danish sector authority in joint effort is an effective mechanism to accelerate Danish companies’ access to market opportunities.

 

Danish solutions promoting sustainable development

Urbanisation, increase in population and excessive use of natural resources in countries such as Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico are challenging sustainable development. Public-private solutions within urban planning, agriculture, and the transition to a green economy are areas in which Denmark has longstanding experience and can contribute with valuable knowledge and solutions.

We promote Danish solutions through Strategic Sector Cooperation. In Denmark, we have developed collaborations across the public and private sectors on transitioning to a green economy, urban planning, agriculture, food and health. Based on this experience, we can both promote responsible, sustainable development and benefit Danish exports and Danish solutions.

Maritime cooperation with China – the world's largest manufacturer of ships

Based on long lasting cooperation between Denmark and China in the maritime area, a Strategic Sector Cooperation project with two tracks was established in 2017. The first concerns green shipbuilding. In this area, Danish experience on fuel-efficient solutions is utilised. The second track concerns maritime safety by exchange of experience on port state control, emissions, and fuels.

"The maritime sector counsellor in China has helped strengthen contact and dialogue with the relevant Chinese authorities responsible for shipbuilding, maritime equipment, and technology (...). In addition, through ongoing contact with Danish maritime industrial companies in Denmark as well as through their branches and offices in China, the sector counsellor has helped strengthen– their commercial opportunities in China."

CEO Jenny N. Braat, Danish Maritime

 

Latest update June 2024.

Facts about the aid- and development-oriented modality 18 countries: South and North America: Brazil, Colombia and Mexico Africa: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa Asia: Bangladesh, China, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam Europe: Ukraine and Türkiye As of 2024, 11 Danish authorities are partners in the Strategic Sector Cooperation. 54 Strategic Sector Cooperation agreements have been concluded. 62 sector counsellors are posted at Danish embassies abroad – and more are on the way in selected high-income countries.

Click on the world map to see where Danish authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperate with local authorities.

 

Further information

You can read about the commercial- and export-oriented modality on the Trade council's website.