DHL, Standard Bank and MTN Join South African Government to Expand SME Trade Across Africa

August 13, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

African small and medium-sized businesses will receive expanded access to trade finance, digital services, export training and international logistics under a new partnership between DHL, Standard Bank, MTN and South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

The initiatives are being introduced through DHL’s GoTrade programme, which is designed to help businesses overcome barriers to entering regional and international markets. The partners will combine government support with banking, telecommunications and logistics services to build export capacity among SMEs.

The programme has reached more than 24,000 SMEs in more than 50 countries since its launch in 2021, including more than 8,000 women-owned businesses. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 8,000 SMEs have participated in GoTrade programmes and related capacity-building initiatives.

DHL plans to invest 300 million euros across Africa by 2030, with part of the investment supporting programmes intended to expand participation in trade and promote sustainable business growth.

Standard Bank will provide trade-finance and advisory services alongside its pan-African network, while connecting businesses to its Export Readiness Programme. The programme, launched in KwaZulu-Natal in 2025, has expanded to Gauteng and the Western Cape.

The bank has also used its partnership with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to connect African businesses with Chinese importers. In 2025, clients from four African markets were matched with Chinese buyers for products including rooibos tea, coffee, cocoa, nuts and wine.

"Access to finance alone is not enough. SMEs also need access to buyers, markets, trade knowledge and trusted networks," said Bill Blackie, chief executive of Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group.

MTN will provide digital skills training, connectivity and cloud services, together with digital payments and online marketing support. The programme will also offer mentorship and guidance to businesses seeking to enter export markets.

"Digital transformation is a critical enabler of business growth and competitiveness," said David Behr, MTN Group chief enterprise business officer.

The South African trade department and DHL will support trade education, business clinics, trade missions and trade-corridor initiatives, while promoting awareness of the African Continental Free Trade Area and other trade agreements.

Willem van der Spuy, acting deputy director-general at the department, said the partnership would help improve the competitiveness of SMEs and increase the participation of emerging exporters in regional and global trade.

SMEs account for more than 90% of businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa and about 70% of employment, according to DHL. Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, said the initiative was intended to address financing, digital adoption, trade knowledge and market-access constraints faced by businesses seeking to expand internationally.

The partners said the initiatives would create a pipeline of export-ready businesses and support entrepreneurship, employment and economic participation across African markets.

Source: FSX Business News