Freight News, Logistics

DHL, ITC Expand SME Cross-Border Program

[ September 18, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

DHL and the International Trade Centre have renewed a partnership aimed at helping small and midsized businesses overcome logistics and other barriers to international trade.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed Sept. 16, DHL and ITC will expand support for SMEs in exports, supply chains and logistics while working with business-support organizations and ITC SheTrades Hubs.

The organizations have worked together since 2016, with programs spanning more than 60 countries in Africa, ASEAN, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since 2021, DHL’s GoTrade program has reached more than 26,000 SMEs and 8,000 women-owned businesses with training in logistics, e-commerce and international trade. A separate collaboration with ITC’s SheTrades initiative has provided technical assistance, logistics expertise and shipping support to more than 4,000 women-led businesses across 60 countries.

Between 2020 and 2024, ITC’s ecomConnect program also connected more than 400 SMEs with DHL support, including preferential shipping arrangements that reduced costs by as much as 60 percent in selected markets.

“For small businesses, the main challenge is not in creating quality products for customers, but getting it to them,” said Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC executive director. She said the expanded partnership is intended to address last-mile logistics barriers and help smaller businesses reach additional markets.

Tags: DHL, International Trade Centre