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DHL Express and ASEAN Business Advisory Council signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen trade facilitation and supply chain resilience across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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Partnership aims to help micro, small and medium businesses, including women-led enterprises, expand participation in cross-border trade
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Collaboration will focus on digital logistics adoption, supply chain resilience, decarbonization, and harmonization of trade standards
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Initiative supports ASEAN’s goal of deeper economic integration and enhanced global competitiveness
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DHL will deploy its GoTrade program across the region to help MSMEs navigate digital, financial, and logistics challenges in international trade
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ASEAN-BAC Philippines will expand its ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network into a digital platform
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The global DHL GoTrade Summit will be held in Manila this year in partnership with ASEAN-BAC and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry
DHL Express and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at advancing trade facilitation, strengthening supply chain resilience, and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the region.
The collaboration, sealed through a memorandum of understanding, reflects a shared commitment to accelerating ASEAN’s economic integration and strengthening the region’s position in global trade, DHL said in a media release.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will focus on four priority areas: expanding MSMEs’ participation in cross-border trade, including women-led enterprises; strengthening supply chain resilience and digital logistics adoption; advancing decarbonization initiatives; and promoting harmonized supply chain and digital trade standards through policy advocacy.
“ASEAN’s strength will not be measured by the success of a few, but by the number of people we bring into the circle of growth and opportunity,” said Jose Ma. Concepcion III, chairman of ASEAN-BAC.
“Advancing Prosperity for All means building an ASEAN where businesses of all sizes can grow and innovate. Through stronger regional collaboration, and this partnership with DHL, we want to ensure that no one – especially MSMEs and the small entrepreneurs – is left behind,” he added.
The partnership aligns with ASEAN’s broader objective of improving regional and global trade connectivity. It also complements DHL’s GT20 initiative, which focuses on the world’s 20 most significant markets, six of which are ASEAN member states.
Through the collaboration, DHL Express and ASEAN-BAC aim to reduce barriers to cross-border commerce, improve customs processes and standards, and help ASEAN businesses strengthen their competitiveness in international markets.
According to the latest DHL Global Connectedness Report, Asia remains a major driver of global trade, with ASEAN contributing significantly to international trade flows. The region accounted for approximately $4.4 trillion in merchandise trade, underscoring the importance of supporting MSMEs as they seek to expand regionally and globally.
READ: Globalization holds up against geopolitics, tariff chaos—DHL report
As part of the agreement, DHL will provide technical expertise through its GoTrade program and related MSME support initiatives. The program will be rolled out across ASEAN to help businesses address challenges in digitalization, finance, and logistics associated with international trade.
The DHL GoTrade program is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises access global markets and capitalize on cross-border trade opportunities.
READ: DHL Express PH sees double-digit growth with SMEs among key drivers
Meanwhile, ASEAN-BAC Philippines, which serves as the council’s chair for 2026, continues to place MSME development at the center of its agenda through four strategic pillars: People, Planet, Platform, and Productivity.
Its flagship ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network, first launched during the Philippines’ ASEAN-BAC chairmanship in 2017, will be expanded into a digital platform to broaden access to mentorship, innovation support, market opportunities, and regional business networks.
The partnership will also include joint research on trade challenges facing MSMEs, promotion of digital trade processes, and engagement with governments to advance aligned trade and supply chain standards.
DHL Express and ASEAN-BAC said these efforts are expected to reinforce ASEAN’s role in global supply chains and strengthen the region’s position as a competitive international trading hub.
The global DHL GoTrade Summit will be held in Manila later this year, with ASEAN-BAC and the Department of Trade and Industry serving as partners. The event will bring together policymakers, industry experts, and business leaders to discuss strategies that will help MSMEs expand and compete more effectively across borders.
Herbert Vongpusanachai, senior vice president for commercial, Asia Pacific, DHL Express, said MSMEs will play a crucial role in driving the next phase of ASEAN’s economic growth.
“Global trade has proven its resilience time and again, and ASEAN continues to stand out as a critical pillar of that growth. MSMEs are at the heart of ASEAN’s economies, and their ability to compete internationally will define the region’s next phase of development,” he said.
“DHL has been a constant in enabling cross-border trade – providing the infrastructure, expertise and reliability that businesses depend on. Our partnership with ASEAN-BAC and our GoTrade program show that we are doubling down on our commitment to MSMEs so that they can confidently scale beyond their home markets,” Vongpusanachai emphasized.
