South Africa is bringing private-sector logistics and trade expertise into its exporter development programme to help more small businesses enter regional and global markets.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and DHL have formalised a partnership aimed at expanding the participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and emerging exporters in international trade.
The collaboration, formally launched this week with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, will be delivered through DHL’s GoTrade Programme and will include trade education, capacity building, business clinics, trade missions and corridor activation initiatives.
It will also promote awareness of trade frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other agreements that could open new markets for South African businesses.
The initiative forms part of the DTIC’s broader drive to support industrialisation and export growth and is aligned with its recently launched eTrade South Africa Programme.
The programme aims to equip businesses with the knowledge, skills, tools and market access needed to participate in cross-border e-commerce and expand internationally.
Government could provide policy support, market intelligence and exporter development programmes, while the private sector brought operational expertise, technology, finance, logistics and direct access to markets, said acting DTIC deputy director-general of exports, Willem van der Spuy.
The DTIC had approached DHL because it believed its exporter development work could be strengthened by the involvement of a global logistics and trade-enablement partner, he said.
“eTrade South Africa will be powered by DHL's GoTrade initiative, bringing together the dtic's exporter development capabilities and DHL's practical expertise in logistics, trade facilitation, e-commerce and international market connectivity.
“Our ambition is simple: to help more South African MSMEs transition from businesses with export potential to businesses that are actively exporting and competing in global markets,” said van der Spuy.
Standard Bank and MTN will also contribute to the broader initiative, providing financial solutions and digital connectivity respectively.
Van der Spuy said combining these capabilities could help build an export ecosystem around MSMEs and improve their ability to participate in international trade.
