South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Standard Bank, MTN and DHL have announced a series of strategic partnerships aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Sub-Saharan Africa scale their businesses, access new markets and participate more effectively in regional and global trade.
The initiatives, launched under DHL’s GoTrade programme, seek to address key barriers to SME growth, including limited access to finance, export-readiness challenges, gaps in digital adoption and constraints around market access.
Since its launch in 2021, GoTrade has expanded to more than 50 countries and supported over 24,000 SMEs globally, including more than 8,000 women-owned businesses. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 8,000 SMEs have participated in GoTrade programmes and capacity-building initiatives.
DHL also plans to invest €300 million across Africa by 2030, with continued investment in programmes designed to expand participation in trade and support sustainable business growth.
The partnerships bring together government, financial services, telecommunications and international logistics expertise to establish a support ecosystem for businesses seeking to expand through trade.
The dtic-DHL partnership aligns with the department’s objectives around industrialisation, export growth and emerging exporter development. It will focus on trade education, capacity-building programmes, business clinics, trade missions, corridor activation initiatives and greater awareness of trade frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other agreements that can open new opportunities for African businesses.
Standard Bank will contribute its pan-African footprint, trade-finance expertise and cross-border trade ecosystem to help SMEs access new markets and participate in regional and global value chains.
The bank will support businesses in turning export ambitions into executable trade opportunities through finance, advisory services and access to trade networks. SMEs will also be connected to Standard Bank’s Export Readiness Programme, which provides knowledge, advisory support and practical tools for competing internationally. First launched in KwaZulu-Natal in 2025, the programme has since expanded to Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Standard Bank’s partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) also supports business matchmaking, trade linkages and market-access opportunities between African and Chinese businesses. In 2025, the bank connected clients from four African markets with Chinese importers across product categories including rooibos tea, coffee, cocoa, nuts and wine.
MTN, meanwhile, will support SMEs with digital skills training, connectivity and cloud solutions designed to enable secure data storage, team collaboration, remote working and business scalability. The partnership will also provide digital payment capabilities, online marketing support, mentorship and guidance on entering new markets through exporting.
The partners aim to build a stronger pipeline of export-ready businesses equipped to compete in increasingly interconnected markets. The initiatives are expected to contribute to entrepreneurship, job creation and economic inclusion across African markets.
