# DHL strategic partnerships for SME trade support

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dhl-strategic-partnerships-for-sme-trade-support
> Updated: 2026-09-16T16:01:57.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

DHL has entered into several strategic initiatives to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in global trade. On September 13, the company signed a letter of intent with Alibaba to develop AI-supported logistics solutions, aiming to use artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and reduce barriers for SMEs in international trade.

Following this, DHL renewed its partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) through a memorandum of understanding. This collaboration focuses on assisting SMEs, particularly women-led businesses, by combining ITC’s market intelligence with DHL’s global logistics network. The partnership seeks to enhance export and supply chain support through initiatives like the ITC SheTrades Hubs.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-16: ITC and DHL renew partnership to support SME cross-border trade

The International Trade Centre and DHL have renewed their partnership to support SMEs and women-led businesses in overcoming barriers to international trade through logistics and market intelligence.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/itc-and-dhl-renew-partnership-to-support-sme-cross-border-trade

### 2026-09-13: DHL Group partners with Alibaba and expands German operations

DHL Group has partnered with Alibaba to develop AI-driven logistics for SMEs and completed a corporate restructuring to DHL AG, alongside expanding its Cologne parcel center capacity.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dhl-group-partners-with-alibaba-and-expands-german-operations

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Cite as: DHL strategic partnerships for SME trade support. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dhl-strategic-partnerships-for-sme-trade-support