Left: Arnald Jorge, CEO of Export Council of Australia Right: Jim Vrondas, General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, WorldFirst
Sydney — WorldFirst, Ant International’s business account service provider, and the Export Council of Australia (ECA), announced a strategic partnership to empower cross-border small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia to navigate international markets.
The collaboration comes as the Australian dollar experiences heightened volatility, swinging from below US$0.61 to above US$0.66 within four months - an 8% fluctuation that significantly impacts exporters' profitability. This partnership directly addresses these challenges by combining ECA's six decades of trade capacity-building with WorldFirst's cross-border payment solutions:
- Enhance Financial Resilience: Leverage WorldFirst's FX expertise through targeted webinars and roundtables on managing currency volatility and optimising cash flow, helping Australian SMEs safeguard profits in fluctuating markets.
- Simplify Global Payments: Co-develop practical workshops and resources that demonstrate streamlined cross-border payment solutions, helping SMEs reduce transaction costs and processing times.
- Amplify Global Networks: Co-host events at key trade forums and conferences, connecting Australian businesses to international opportunities and knowledge-sharing.
This partnership directly addresses surging market demand, evidenced by WorldFirst Australia's 55% year-on-year growth in new client acquisition during the H1 2025. As Australian SMEs increasingly prioritise cross-border efficiency, the collaboration underscores WorldFirst's commitment to building digital infrastructure—globally scalable, compliant payment solutions that transform currency management from a challenge into a competitive edge.
WorldFirst’s flagship product World Account combines global payments, collections, FX conversion, and treasury management in a single integrated solution. This enables Australian sellers to effortlessly collect from 130+ global marketplaces (including Amazon and Walmart) while giving local buyers streamlined payment solutions for international sourcing.
2025 marks WorldFirst's full rollout of its World Card with Mastercard, extending its SME financial solutions to new innovation. The card combines robust security features with global payment capabilities, helping business owners optimise expenses while expanding internationally, currently also available in Oceania.
"Australian exporters, particularly SMEs, often raise cross-border payment complexities and currency risks as key challenges. The partnership with WorldFirst will help tackle these issues through multi-currency accounts, competitive FX rates, and secure international transfers—equipping exporters with much needed tools for safer, more efficient global trade." Said Arnold Jorge, CEO of Export Council of Australia.
Jim Vrondas, General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, WorldFirst said: “WorldFirst is committed to supporting the global growth aspirations of Australian SME businesses. The agreement we signed with the ECA sends a clear signal that we are here to help local businesses succeed when navigating complex international markets. This not only means connecting foreign currency accounts to the world’s most popular marketplaces but also helping business protect profit margins.”
About WorldFirst
WorldFirst offers cross-border payments and treasury services through its global business account, empowering growth for SMEs in e-commerce, trade, and the broad platform economy. WorldFirst simplifies key financial operations, including international payments, collections, currency conversions, and treasury management, all in a one-stop account. Leveraging the technological strengths of its parent company Ant International, WorldFirst delivers industry-leading transaction security and reliability. WorldFirst has supported over 1.2 million customers, enabling payments in 100+ currencies across more than 210 countries and regions. Learn more about WorldFirst at https://www.worldfirst.com.
About Export Council of Australia
The Export Council of Australia is a not-for-profit 'peak industry body', representing businesses engaged in international trade. It has existed for more than 60 years. ECA members are mostly small businesses from different industries, doing business across global markets. ECA provides advice, training, ecosystem-building, and advocacy. It advances simplified and inclusive trade, utilisation of emerging technologies, traceability, first nations and women entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability.
