ITC and DHL Partner to Boost Cross-Border Trade for SMEs and Women-Led Businesses

On September 20, 2026, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and DHL formalized a partnership aimed at facilitating cross-border trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on women-led businesses. This collaboration combines ITC's expertise in market information and inclusive trade with DHL's global logistics network to bolster support ecosystems for these vital economic players.

SMEs make up about 90% of businesses worldwide and provide approximately 70% of employment, yet many face significant barriers to fully participating in international trade. The new agreement targets these challenges by assisting SMEs in areas such as exports, supply chain management, and logistics while partnering with business promotion organizations and ITC SheTrades Hubs to improve services tailored to women entrepreneurs.

The organizations build on a decade of successful cooperation impacting SMEs across over 60 countries including regions like Africa, ASEAN, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC's Executive Director, emphasized that "the main challenge for small businesses is not producing quality goods but delivering them." Concurrently, Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the necessity of partnerships to create ecosystems that enable market access and growth.

In parallel, German SMEs are facing ongoing challenges in funding climate protection investments, with a KfW Research survey indicating that 73% still see unmet needs for climate initiatives such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. While this is a separate issue, it underscores the broader financial and operational hurdles SMEs must navigate to sustain and expand their businesses internationally.

This partnership aims to equip SMEs, especially those led by women, with the needed knowledge, logistics support, and financing pathways to thrive in global trade markets while complementing efforts to address other vital SME investment needs.