The Swedish government has decided on Sweden's first national strategy for supply chain preparedness. The strategy is intended to provide common direction for how public and private actors within the total defence should strengthen the country's ability to maintain supply flows during crisis, heightened alert and war.
In a press release from the Ministry of Defence, the government outlines three overarching goals: that Sweden should be able to maintain supply flows, compensate for market disruptions and prioritise resources during shortage situations. The strategy comprises 19 priority measures, including strengthened continuity planning, developed stockpiling of emergency supplies, improved information sharing between public and private actors, and expanded cooperation within the Nordic region, the EU and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
"A robust Sweden requires that supply flows function in the event of heightened alert and war. This requires public and private actors to take responsibility and plan to be able to maintain their operations even under very difficult conditions. The national strategy provides clear direction and identifies the measures that need to be prioritised to strengthen Sweden's supply chain preparedness," says Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin in the press release.
According to the strategy, well-functioning cooperation between industry and public actors is a fundamental prerequisite for supply chain preparedness. The government also highlights that this work is part of the implementation of the total defence bill for the period 2025 to 2030. The strategy is intended to serve as guidance for government agencies, municipalities, regions and industry in the continued work of strengthening civil defence.