Richard Li, group head of global chinese at Standard Chartered, said, “The solution promotes the use of RMB that can deliver tangible benefits, including lower foreign exchange costs, improved working capital efficiency and better alignment of cash flows.” He added that the solution enables small entrepreneurs engaged in Sino-Africa trade to manage multiple currencies, access reliable financing, and navigate complex regulatory environments.

Originally launched in China in 2006, the initiative reflects the bank’s continued commitment to supporting SMEs in their international expansion. Bernard Kombo, head of SME Banking at Standard Chartered Kenya, noted that businesses can achieve up to two per cent annual savings by using RMB for working capital financing.

Kombo further highlighted that the corridor leverages a cross-border international payments system, enabling settlement within 15 seconds, significantly faster than traditional methods that take one to two days.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)

On March **, ****, India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Notification No. **/****–**, amending Para *.** of the Foreign Trade Policy and removing the long-standing ****;** lakh (about $**,***) per-consignment cap on courier exports. From April *, exporters can send consignments of any value through courier mode instead of splitting higher-value orders into smaller parcels.

For textiles and apparel, this is more than a procedural tweak. The sector is no longer driven only by large container-based orders from global retailers. It is increasingly shaped by samples, capsule drops, repeat orders, customised runs, premium home textiles, craft-led fashion, and direct-to-consumer cross-border fulfilment. In that world, courier flexibility matters.

Reebok, the iconic and irreverent sports culture brand, and GLDN PNT, an activewear racquet sports brand born from the community of padel, are joining forces to launch a performance-driven apparel collection designed for athletes and enthusiasts.

Padel, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, has seen an explosion of participation and fan engagement in recent years. Recognizing the sport’s surging popularity and vibrant community, Reebok is stepping onto the padel court through a collaboration with GLDN PNT—a brand born from and built for the padel movement.

Reebok has partnered with GLDN PNT to launch a performance-driven padel apparel collection, tapping into the sport’s rapid global growth.
The range includes technical tees, tanks, bras and shorts designed for modern players, combining innovation, functionality and style, while strengthening Reebok’s presence in the fast-expanding padel community.

The Reebok x GLDN PNT collection features a range of high-performance apparel, including the ID Train Short Sleeve Tech Tee, Speed Racer Tank, ID Performance Tech Tee, ID Train Tri Back Bra, and WOR 9 in Woven Short. Each piece is designed with the modern padel player in mind, blending innovative materials, functional design, and bold style.

“Padel is more than a sport—it’s a global movement, and we’re thrilled to partner with Reebok to raise the bar for padel apparel,” said Scott London, Founder of GLDN PNT. “Our mission has always been to celebrate the culture and community of padel, and this collaboration gives us the reach and resources to inspire even more players around the world. We’re making the moment count—on and off the court.”

For Reebok, this partnership represents an opportunity to join the padel community in a meaningful and authentic way.

“Padel’s incredible growth represents the kind of energy and passion that Reebok has championed for decades,” said SVP of Reebok, Daniel Schachne. “By collaborating with GLDN PNT, a brand deeply rooted in the sport, we’re excited to deliver innovative performance apparel to padel athletes everywhere and support the vibrant community driving the sport forward.”

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)