DHL and Absa Partner to Help African SMEs Expand Cross-Border Trade

DHL and Absa Partner to Help African SMEs Expand Cross-Border Trade. DHL Express and Absa Group have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding DHL’s GoTrade programme across Sub-Saharan Africa, bringing together logistics and financial expertise to support small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to trade across borders.

The partnership will provide SMEs with practical tools, training and access to services focused on cross-border trade, e-commerce and business development. The initiative is designed to help businesses address some of the challenges associated with expanding beyond domestic markets.

Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi said the partnership would help SMMEs overcome constraints affecting regional growth.

“This partnership brings together the finance, logistics, market knowledge and public support that SMMEs need to trade beyond our borders,” Godlimpi said.

He added that strengthening the ability of South African enterprises to enter African markets could support intra-African trade, job creation and economic growth.

The agreement was signed by Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, and Faisal Mkhize, managing executive for business development, Business Banking Pan-Africa at Absa Group.

DHL’s GoTrade programme is designed to assist SMEs facing barriers to international trade, including limited logistics knowledge, financing constraints, regulatory complexity and digital readiness.

Under the agreement, DHL will contribute its logistics expertise, while Absa will provide banking and financial capabilities to support businesses seeking to expand beyond their domestic markets.

Heymans said many entrepreneurs across Africa have strong ideas and ambitions but continue to face obstacles when attempting to trade globally.

“By partnering with Absa Group, we are creating a powerful ecosystem that combines logistics excellence with financial expertise,” he said.

The partnership will focus on practical areas such as helping businesses understand exporting for the first time, access financial support, reach customers online and expand into international markets.

The programme has already been implemented in several African markets. Approximately 1,600 SMEs have received training in Uganda, which was among the earliest markets to implement GoTrade. Entrepreneurs in Kenya, Botswana and Zambia have also benefited from the programme.

Mozambique and Tanzania are next in line for the rollout, according to the companies.

Mkhize said SMEs play an important role in Africa’s economic future by creating jobs and strengthening communities.

“Our partnership with DHL Express is about giving business owners practical support, and access to trade solutions that can help them move beyond their local markets and realise their growth ambitions,” he said.

The partnership between DHL Express and Absa Group therefore brings logistics and financial support together under the GoTrade programme as the initiative expands its reach across Sub-Saharan Africa.