Standard Bank is strengthening its support for African businesses seeking to participate in regional and global trade by bringing together financial solutions, market access, logistics expertise and practical export support.
The recent inclusion of DHL’s GoTrade platform in the bank’s SME Export Readiness programme forms part of a broader effort to address some of the practical logistics requirements associated with cross-border trade, including logistics barriers for landlocked countries and the challenge of shipping smaller consignments between markets.
GoTrade is a DHL-led initiative designed to help Small and Medium-Sized (SME) businesses access international trade opportunities by connecting them with practical technical support, regulatory guidance, market access and export-focused expertise to support cross-border trade.
For many SMEs, identifying and accessing viable export markets remains one of the biggest barriers to international expansion. As a result, market access forms a critical component of Standard Bank's broader trade ecosystem, complementing the financial, advisory and logistics support required to participate successfully in cross-border trade.
Cross-border trade is a critical enabler of market access and Standard Bank’s market access capabilities are already delivering measurable outcomes. In 2025, clients from four African markets secured export contracts with Chinese importers valued at approximately US$140 million (R2.3 billion) through the bank’s Africa-China Trade Solutions (ACTS) initiatives.
“African businesses have significant opportunities to grow beyond their domestic markets, but success in international trade requires more than a competitive product. Businesses need access to customers, market intelligence and trusted partners that can help them navigate the realities of cross-border trade,” says Junaid Jadwat, Head of Coverage for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group. “Partnerships such as GoTrade are important because they bring together complementary capabilities that help businesses navigate cross-border trade more effectively.”
•Junaid Jadwat, Head of Coverage for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group
Standard Bank’s participation in GoTrade is already being implemented through its Export Readiness Programme in partnership with DHL Express South Africa. First launched in KwaZulu-Natal and expanded this year to Gauteng and the Western Cape, the programme equips export-ready businesses with practical knowledge across export processes, customs and compliance, logistics and market entry, complemented by financial and trade expertise.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed under the GoTrade initiative further formalises this collaboration and provides an opportunity to strengthen the support available to businesses seeking to trade across borders.
This is particularly relevant in smaller and landlocked markets, where the cost and complexity of moving goods can create an additional barrier for businesses seeking to access regional and international opportunities. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to reducing some of the practical barriers that can make cross-border trade difficult for businesses.
Standard Bank supports businesses across different stages of the trade journey through solutions spanning trade finance, working capital, international payments, foreign exchange and risk management. These capabilities are complemented by initiatives designed to connect African businesses with buyers and trade opportunities across regional and international markets.
The need for these capabilities is underscored by the scale of the trade opportunity across the continent. Africa’s growth potential is immense. The continent has more than 1.4 billion people and a GDP exceeding US$3 trillion, yet intra-African trade remains at only about 15% of total trade. That gap represents a significant opportunity.
“To unlock it, three things are critical. First, making trade finance more accessible for SMEs. Africa’s trade finance gap exceeds US$80 billion annually, and SMEs are the most affected. Second, providing integrated solutions beyond funding, including payments, foreign exchange, supply chain finance and market access support. Third, stronger collaboration between banks, governments, development finance institutions and trade platforms to reduce barriers to cross-border trade,” says Simone Cooper, Head of Business and Commercial Banking South Africa at Standard Bank Group.
One example of how Standard Bank translates these capabilities into tangible trade opportunities is the Africa-China trade corridor. Through its strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Standard Bank facilitates business matchmaking and trade linkages between African and Chinese businesses, alongside solutions covering financing, payments, market intelligence and import and export requirements.
Standard Bank’s support for African businesses seeking to access China is also evident through its continued participation in major Africa-China trade platforms, including the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE).
In 2025, Standard Bank hosted 21 export clients at CIIE. It also brought a delegation of 43 African exporters and five African importers to CAETE, connecting businesses with potential Chinese buyers, suppliers and partners. This support is translating into tangible commercial outcomes, with support from Standard Bank and Wesgro (the Western Cape’s tourism, trade and investment promotion agency), two South African rooibos exporters secured first-time entry into China through CIIE and converted their participation into initial multimillion-rand contracts, expected to more than quadruple over the following five years. Ugandan coffee exporters likewise concluded multimillion-rand contracts with Chinese buyers after showcasing their products in Shanghai.
While China represents an important trade corridor, the opportunity extends across intra-African and international trade.
As businesses seek to access new markets, including opportunities arising from greater regional integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reducing the practical friction associated with moving goods, money and services across borders will be critical.
“Trade has the potential to unlock significant growth opportunities for African SMEs but success requires the right support structures,” says Jadwat. “Our focus at Standard Bank is on supporting businesses to build the capabilities, connections and confidence that they need to grow beyond their domestic markets and compete successfully across borders.”
