Small businesses could find it easier to enter international markets as a new partnership brings together logistics, finance, digital services and government support to tackle some of the barriers facing emerging exporters.
DHL Express, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Standard Bank and MTN have joined forces under DHL’s GoTrade Programme to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) expand into regional and global markets.
“The more we can empower our SMEs, the more wealth we will create, the more wealth we create the more sustainable South Africa’s economic growth becomes,” said DHL Express sub-Saharan Africa CEO Hennie Heymans.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is aimed at helping businesses deal with challenges including logistics, market intelligence, trade compliance, access to finance and digital connectivity.
Support to help businesses export
For many small businesses, exporting offers a route to new customers and revenue beyond limited local demand. But having a product that can be sold internationally is only one part of becoming an exporter.
Businesses also need to understand foreign markets, regulations, certification, customs procedures, financing and how to move products efficiently across borders.
The partnership will provide trade education, capacity-building programmes, business clinics, trade missions and initiatives designed to activate trade corridors.
It will also raise awareness of trade frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which creates opportunities for businesses looking to expand across the continent.
Willem van der Spuy, Acting Deputy Director-General of Exports at the dtic, said the partnership brings government and private-sector capabilities together.
“Government provides policy support, market intelligence and exporter development programmes, while the private sector contributes operational expertise, technology, finance, logistics and direct access to markets,” said Van der Spuy.
He said DHL’s global logistics network and trade expertise would strengthen the dtic’s existing exporter development work.
E-commerce opens another route to markets
A key part of the partnership is cross-border e-commerce through theDTIC’s eTrade South Africa Programme.
The programme is designed to give businesses the skills, tools and knowledge needed to trade online across borders and build international customer bases.
Van der Spuy said the initiative links the dtic’s exporter development capabilities with DHL’s expertise in logistics, trade facilitation, e-commerce and international market connectivity.
The goal is to help MSMEs move beyond being export-ready and become active participants in global trade.
MTN Value Proposition and Segments Group GM Emmanuel Forson said the company’s role would go beyond connectivity, with digital tools helping businesses improve productivity and competitiveness.
He said many SMEs lack the time and resources to understand how financial technology can transform their businesses, creating a need for support that helps close the digital knowledge gap.
Finding the right market matters
Finance and market access are also part of the support being brought into the partnership through Standard Bank.
Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking South Africa head Simone Cooper said the bank already helps SMEs connect with opportunities across Africa and in markets such as China.
She said working with DHL adds another layer to these programmes and could help scale support to thousands of SMEs.
However, Standard Bank Group Business and Commercial Banking international trade head Luthando Vuba cautioned businesses against automatically targeting the biggest available market.
He said SMEs should consider demand, regulations, certification, customs procedures and other non-tariff barriers before deciding where to export.
Vuba also encouraged businesses to engage with financiers early rather than waiting until they need funding.
