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Posted by David Sexton
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10 June, 2026
A MEMORANDUM of understanding between DHL Express and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) is aimed at facilitating small business trade among ASEAN member states.
The initiative is said to underscore a shared commitment to accelerate ASEAN’s economic integration and global competitiveness.
The partnership is to focus on four key areas:
- Empowering MSMEs including women-led businesses with enhanced access to and effective participation in cross-border trade
- Strengthening supply chain resilience and promoting digital logistics adoption
- Advancing decarbonisation practices
- Harmonising supply chain and digital trade standards
These focus areas are said to align with ASEAN’s broader goal to enhance intra-regional and global trade connectivity.
It also highlights DHL’s GT20 initiative, which prioritises the world’s 20 most significant markets; six of these are ASEAN member states.
“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 ASEAN Business Advisory Council chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III.
“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.”
DHL Asia Pacific senior vice president for commercial, Herbert Vongpusanachai, said global trade had proven its resilience, and ASEAN continued 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,” Mr Vongpusanachai 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.”
Asia remains a key anchor in global trade, according to the latest DHL Global Connectedness Report, with ASEAN also contributing significantly to trade flows.
