ITC and dtic sign export pact running through 2030 for SA SMEs

South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have signed a memorandum of understanding that runs through 2030 to push more South African businesses into regional and international markets.

The deal, announced this week, sets a cooperation framework that combines two things: the ITC's track record in trade-led development and SME competitiveness work, and the dtic's existing export development programmes. It covers both current initiatives and new opportunities for the two institutions to raise resources together.

For practitioners, the substance sits in four focus areas: enhancing the export readiness of businesses, strengthening trade support institutions, increasing access to market intelligence, and promoting digitally connected, sustainable and inclusive trade-led growth — with specific attention to women and youth.

What does the deal actually change for exporters?

The most tangible piece is access. Under the agreement, South African businesses will be able to use the ITC's global trade expertise, its digital platforms, its market intelligence tools — including the Global Trade Helpdesk — and its international networks. That's meant to help firms identify new export opportunities and work through increasingly complex international markets.

On the ground, the ITC and the dtic will collaborate to strengthen SME competitiveness and export readiness through training, advisory services and trade development programmes. The partnership also carries an explicit inclusion mandate: women-led businesses and young entrepreneurs are named as groups that should participate more effectively in trade.

ITC executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton framed the ambition in direct terms. "South African small businesses have the talent and entrepreneurial drive to strengthen their presence in regional and global markets," she said. "Through this partnership, we will work with the dtic to equip small businesses with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to compete internationally, create jobs and contribute to sustainable economic growth."

A policy bet on value chains, not just volumes

Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi said export development is about more than selling more goods abroad. "It is about building productive capacity, supporting value-added manufacturing, creating jobs and enabling more South African businesses to participate in regional and global value chains," he said. "This is central to our export strategy and our industrial development strategy."

Godlimpi added: "Our partnership with the International Trade Centre will strengthen practical support for emerging exporters, so that township enterprises, rural producers, women-owned businesses and young entrepreneurs can benefit from international trade."

That language signals where the support is aimed: emerging exporters, township enterprises and rural producers, not just established export houses.

The AfCFTA angle

nThe agreement also backs South Africa's push to expand exports, diversify markets and strengthen its position as a regional trade and investment hub. A specific mechanism is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): the partnership is designed to help small businesses tap opportunities under the continental trade pact.

Beyond trade volumes, the MoU ties into broader sustainability goals. It encourages green trade, responsible business practices and stronger regional value chains across Africa.

The seven-year horizon gives both institutions time to build programmes rather than run one-off projects. For South African SMEs, the practical question now is uptake — whether training, advisory services and tools like the Global Trade Helpdesk reach the township, rural, women-led and youth-run firms the partnership explicitly targets.