The international express service provider has launched of GoTrade in Malaysia. The new programme aims to facilitate export-led growth for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The initiative will also equip business owners with practical knowledge and resources to navigate the complexities of shipping abroad and accessing foreign markets.
“Administrative, technical, and regulatory barriers to entry can hamper SMEs from expanding overseas. GoTrade marks our efforts to mitigate these bottlenecks by leveraging public and private sector cooperation as well as our industry expertise and capabilities. As a result, we can contribute to the success of the communities we serve in line with our purpose of connecting people and improving lives,” said Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei.
SMEs are the backbone of the local economy, making up 98.5 percent of all businesses and employing 48 percent of the country’s workforce. Yet, contribution to total exports remains low at only 18%, representing a largely untapped opportunity.
Studies have shown that organisations involved in global trade are 8.5 percent less likely to fail3, 21 percent more productive, and pay up to 19% higher wages than those that do not.
GoTrade features a network of 14 partners to assist participating companies at various stages of their globalisation journeys: financing (TFX Islamic, Funding Societies, and Vynn Capital), packaging (Ranpak, Anfotec, and M Force), photography (Noissues and One DMP Enterprise), graphic design (Brandripe), and e-commerce solutions (Meekco.Asia, Everpeaks, Akros One Solution, Vlan Asia, and Megamail).
The programme further includes a series of webinars during which business owners can learn to adopt digital transformation, appeal their brands to international audiences, and devise export strategies with guidance from trade specialists both within and outside DHL.
Also in the pipeline are peer-to-peer sharing sessions, lead exchange activities, and collaboration with government agencies on trade support for SMEs.
