SEEF: The eCommerce retail sales in the year 2013 value approximately 5% of the total global retail sales estimated at $ 14 trillion. GCC eCommerce transactions value about $12 billion; eCommerce sales in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2014 estimated $230 million, according to the Minister.
Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce opened eCommerce workshop titled “eCommerce Bahraini platform to global market” at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center. The workshop was organized by eCommerce and Information Technology Directorate and Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH) and sponsored by ALBA and BATELCO.
“The Ministry organizes such workshop comes to confirm government’s interest for such initiatives which translate its orientations and strategies as well as compatibility with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030,” the Minister said.
He added that the government has proceeded to a number of e-initiatives that focus on the concept of e-Citizen in order to spread digital literacy and provide an opportunity for all members of society to enhance their participations and transactions over the internet on economic and social levels. In addition enhance computer usage and increase reliance on many services available online with taking into account the current economic challenges that are imposed on the individuals and institutions to make greater efforts to enter this network.
The minister noted that believing on the importance of e-commerce and its positive impact on the local economy, the Government of Bahrain has issued Decree No. (28) for the year 2002 on electronic transactions to provide necessary legal ground to practice transactions related to eCommerce to ensure legal rights arising from such transactions.
He pointed that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce initiated to launch a range of investment opportunities in the field of e-commerce and information technology and communications to support industrial and commercial investment.
The statistics indicate that eCommerce in the GCC concentrated on booking airlines tickets, hotel rooms, purchase computer hardware and software as well as gifts, flowers and books.
The workshop will cover three seminars; the first will cover the Definition of eMarketPlace and its importance conducted by Ubaildy Al Ubaidly.
Head of Bahrain Technology Companies Society Dr Ahmed Abdulla Nasser Consultant of ICT knowledge Club and Khalid Fahad Althawadi General President of Digital Waves, while the second seminar will cover IT Solutions and offers to support eProjects which will be handled by Sadeq Al Tooblani Manager of Transactional Business and Hosting Services in Batelco, Mrs. Budoor Kamal Manager of Business Advisory and Development Services in Bahrain Development Bank and Ali Al Meshal Merchant eBusiness Manager in CREDIMAX.
The workshop will conclude with its third seminar which will cover Successful Businesses in eMarketPlace which will be covered by Mr. Abdulhameed Al Omar CEO of TALABAT.com, Mr. Ahmed Khamdan CEO of ADVANTI Advanced Technologies International and Arif Khalifa Sales Assistant Manager from PayTabs.