Page 78 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019
P. 78
REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS
MoCI and ITA to Bring Latest e-Commerce Tech to Oman
Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and the first Omani electronic platform that included a presentation of a number of
Industry (MoCI) and the Information brings together a number of local and working papers, including Oman 2040, the
Technology Authority (ITA) will together international brands and stores.” “The transformation of business, the growth
ensure that Oman keeps track of the consumer can choose and order products of electronic payment in Oman as well
latest e-commerce developments in the electronically through the platform and as a working paper on the best policies
market, to ensure that the country can will be delivered within 48 hours across for innovation in the field of electronic
adapt to such changes accordingly. The the Sultanate. The platform is witnessing services and how to expand the scope
announcement was made at the Oman a large turnout of brands and stores that of start-up through e-commerce in the
e-commerce conference, which saw the want to show their products through the world. Additionally, working papers on
participation of more than 40 local and platform and there are about 60 brands how to benefit from technology to digitally
international companies, as well as 50 and shops in the platform. The Oman enhance society, improve customer
speakers from different countries. Bader e-commerce conference is an opportunity experience, business management, future
Al Lawati, an academic researcher in to meet and communicate with local and trade regulatory approaches, convert data
digital technologies, said: “The conference international companies and exchange into actionable visions, shape business
comes at an important time with the experiences,” he added. Majid Al Ameri, practices, and the role of e-commerce
government’s orientation and the efforts the founder of the Thawani platform, said: in empowering women and youth, were
of the MoCI and ITA to keep pace with “Thawani platform for electronic payments presented. The conference also included
the global technological developments. It using a mobile phone is a free application a number of discussions where the
comes parallel to the vision of Oman 2040, on Android and iOS, and the platform can be revolution of electronic commerce and the
especially after Royal Decrees were issued used by traders and consumers. Payments factors leading to change and the impact
over investment laws such as the foreign by phone are available round-the-clock of electronic commerce on the economy
capital investment law and the commercial and our platform allows consumers to and how it would impact the future
companies’ law. The e-commerce pay for their purchases via mobile phone were discussed, while another session
department has also been established without the direct use of bank card or PIN.” discussed block chain technology.
at the ministry to deal with and develop The second and final day of the conference
e-commerce.” He added: “E-commerce
started 25 years ago as an idea of selling
from a seller to a buyer only. Today, the
term e-commerce refers to everything
that happens online, such as exchanging
information or providing services and
benefit from remittances and electronic
payment, as well as the process of buying
and selling. Every service provided by the
government or the private sector via the
internet falls under electronic commerce.”
Adnan Al Lawati, who participated in
the exhibition that accompanied the
conference, said: “During the conference,
we launched our electronic platforms
which called ‘Jabali Online’ which was
Egypt Has Most Online Financial Transactions in Arab World
Egypt’s Managing Director of German transformation around the world and are should be strongly taken into consideration
software giant SAP Hoda Mansour said accounting for e-commerce in their work, when undergoing digital transformation in
that Egypt has the most online financial Mansour said during her participation the Egyptian market.
transactions in the Arab world. There in E-commerce Summit held in Egypt.
are 152,000 firms undergoing digital Mansour said that consumer experience
78 SEPTEMBER 2019