Access Bank Ghana PLC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global logistics giant DHL.
The strategic partnership aims to empower about 50,000 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across Africa within the next three years, helping them harness the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This groundbreaking initiative will offer SMEs critical support through capacity building, logistics solutions, and access to export markets. The collaboration marks a significant step towards integrating African SMEs into the wider continental economy, which is a cornerstone of the AfCFTA framework.
Mr. James Bruce, Executive Director of Wholesale Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC, emphasized the bank’s longstanding commitment to the SME sector.
“No economy can grow without SMEs. They are the engine of growth. And aside from access to finance and skills training, logistics is a core component of every SME’s journey, how to get produce to market, how to get it in the right shape so that your business partner on the other side is happy about what they received, so that you have to repeat orders.”
Mr. James Bruce
This philosophy, he explained, drives Access Bank to go beyond just financial assistance. The bank is committed to offering holistic development support to SMEs by partnering with world-class institutions like DHL.
Building Capacity for Long-Term Success
Under the MoU, Access Bank and DHL will design and implement training programs tailored to help SMEs overcome the logistical and operational hurdles of cross-border trade. Many SMEs, particularly in Africa, lack the expertise to navigate export procedures, product packaging, and compliance with international trade standards.
Recognizing these gaps, Mr. Bruce highlighted the value DHL brings to the partnership: “DHL is very big on sustainability. So once we are starting this journey, it is good to have a partner that understands what we are doing.” He reiterated Access Bank’s broader vision, stating, “We are going to be a development partner across Africa. And we’ll be champions of African entrepreneurship.”
DHL, known for its strong logistics infrastructure and commitment to sustainability, sees this partnership as aligned with its mission to enable businesses to grow beyond borders. Mr. Serigne Ndanck Mbaye, CEO for West Africa and Country Head of DHL Ghana, described the MoU as a Pan-African initiative, with Ghana serving as the launchpad. “The partnership and the MoU was to help the partners to support SMEs,” he said.
Mr. Morgan Uloko, Managing Director of DHL Ghana Limited, echoed this sentiment, affirming DHL’s belief in the transformative power of SMEs. He said, “SMEs are the engine for growth of most economies on the continent.”
He further explained that the MoU aligns with DHL’s ‘Go Beyond Borders’ program, designed to equip SMEs with the necessary skills to trade across Africa and tap into new markets. He acknowledged one of the persistent challenges facing SMEs: access to finance.
“This MoU that we just signed today is an announcement of our intent to work with a Pan-African finance institution to coin solutions, financial solutions that will be tailored to the needs of our SMEs.”
Mr. Morgan Uloko
A Shared Vision with Public Sector Support
The partnership has also garnered support from key public sector institutions, including the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA). Mr. Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh, Deputy CEO for Finance and Operations at GEPA, expressed his agency’s alignment with the initiative.
He stated, “The initiative is in line with the mission of GEPA to support SMEs to take advantage of AfCFTA and export to other African countries.” GEPA’s involvement further enhances the initiative’s credibility and ensures that government-backed export support mechanisms are integrated into the training and logistics frameworks.
As Africa continues to push for deeper economic integration through AfCFTA, partnerships like the one between Access Bank and DHL could serve as game-changers for the continent’s private sector. By combining financial solutions with world-class logistics and operational training, this initiative addresses some of the most pressing challenges faced by SMEs.
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