The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the participation of African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in intra-African trade regionally through Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as well as continentally through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The collaboration will be delivered through DHL’s GoTrade programme and aims to equip SMEs with the knowledge, tools and capabilities needed to expand across borders and access new regional market opportunities.
The partnership establishes a framework for cooperation between ECA and DHL in areas including capacity building for women- and youth-owned businesses, digital transformation and innovation in trade, research and analysis, and knowledge sharing on cross-border commerce across Africa.
As part of the collaboration, ECA and DHL will jointly develop and deliver a virtual training programme designed to help African SMEs better understand and leverage opportunities created by the regional integration initiatives, including the AfCFTA. The programme will focus on practical topics including customs procedures, logistics, e-commerce, digital trade, regulatory compliance, market access and trade finance. It will also support the inclusion of women and young entrepreneurs in cross-border trade.
