DHL Targets Small Businesses with World Trade Initiative

DHL, a global logistics company, has launched a comprehensive international trade initiative in the United States aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome the challenges they face when performing business globally. DHL is offering networking events, website resources and a recently expanded U.S. operational network to help SMEs compete internationally.

SMEs are a fast-growing part of the U.S. economy, employing tens of millions of workers and according to the U.S. Government, creating the majority of new private sector jobs within the past 15 years.

SMEs will be able to access new resources through DHL, including a dedicated small business portal and website that offers online tools, reference guides and special offers. The small business portal serves as a database for sharing knowledge, best practices and other topics of interest to SME business owners.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses located in rural areas often have difficulty accessing needed technology, transportation, and services, effectively creating barriers of entry for these businesses and making it more difficult for them to compete with urban small and large businesses. This year, DHL expanded its U.S. footprint in rural areas to help SMEs access its international shipping services. DHL has improved delivery transit times to nearly 1,700 more remote areas in the U.S. to enhance import services for these business shippers.

Through its relationship with Retail Shipping Associates (RSA), DHL international express services are accessible at over 1,600 independently owned or franchised retail shipping center outlets that make up the DHL Authorized Shipping Center (DASC) network in the United States.