Page 48 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Abu Dhabi Customs Completes ‘Digital Transformation’ Of All Services

Abu Dhabi Customs has announced 100 percent completion of Dhabi Customs’ advanced infrastructure, operational flexibility
the digital transformation of all its services through the ‘TAMM’ and innovative technology. Its digital services also enable the
platform, in order to upgrade the customs system and enhance completion of digital payments for 18 services via the ‘Abu Dhabi
customer satisfaction. The digital services provided by Abu Dhabi Pay’ platform - an integrated digital payment platform within
Customs include 40 integrated core services that reflect Abu ‘TAMM’. This reflects the importance of digital transformation in
facilitating transactions for investors, wholesalers and customs
brokers, helping them to save times and facilitate the movement
of trade. Rashid Lahej Al Mansoori, General Director of Abu Dhabi
Customs, said that achieving 100 percent digital transformation
will enhance the completion of customs transactions, and
facilitate the movement of trade and stimulate business and
investment in Abu Dhabi. He added that this development also
supports Abu Dhabi government’s efforts to accelerate the
digital transformation of all government services to enhance
sustainability and provide optimum customer service. Abu Dhabi
Customs’ digital channels received more than 2.7 million visits
during 2020, while more than 56,480 working days were saved
for employees of government agencies. Customer satisfaction
with Abu Dhabi Customs’ digital channels reached 95 percent
during 2020, which reflects the successful impact of the entity’s
digital transformation on its customers. The digital services
enable customers to complete customs services available - in
both Arabic and English - by entering the service using the digital
ID. Then the customs declaration form can be filled out, with the
required documents attached, and the request submitted along
with fee payment. The customs declaration can then be printed
so that customers can obtain customs services from anywhere
in minutes.

Pakistan-Based B2B eCommerce Startup Raises US$6.5 Million

In one of the biggest seed rounds in community (kiryana stores) owners to online, making flexibility for the most
the Middle East and North Africa region access manufacturers, wholesalers, important things, which will eventually
(MENA), the Pakistan B2B marketplace, and suppliers’ inventories. The Bazaar lead to greater returns,” he continued.
Bazaar, raised $6.5 million. Bazaar is one app currently houses over 500 SKUs of Also, Bazaar’s Co-Founder Saad Jangda,
of Pakistan’s best-funded startups, with branded and unbranded products with the who previously was a Careem Product
its overall raise of $7.8 million. This is the option of free next-day delivery. Moreover, Manager, says, “We at Bazaar agree that
Global Founders Capital’s first investment Bazaar was also able to beat its own initial developing the technology layer is a huge
in Pakistan, which is co-leaded by the target of serving 800 Karachi retailers by opportunity for traditional businesses. We
Berlin-based Global Founder Capital and the end of 2020 and was able to close the finally have the right foundation to build
the Pakistanis-based VC Indus Valley year with over 10,000 retailers. Hamza huge tech institutions, considering the
Capital. According to MENAbytes info, this Jawaid, Bazaar Co-founder and a former sheer size of the market, a new narrative
seed round was the second-largest startup McKinsey consultant, also explains that and emphasis on our ecosystem, and an
ever in the MENA region and the largest Bazaar has incredible opportunities to explosion of Pakistanis coming home.” It
in Pakistan. It should also be noted that empower micro-businesses through also has several other goods in its pipeline
Bazaar has a variety of leading global and technology in Pakistan, which has in addition to Bazaar’s mobile market. The
regional institutional and angel investors emerged as the fifth largest country in start-up aims to extend its teams and its
in addition to its leading investors. The the world with rising digital adoption. presence across Pakistan with these new
bazaar was only launched 8 months ago “Over 80% of our customers own and funding opportunities. Global Founders
and hopes to digitize traditional retail operate smartphones, yet their way of Capital and Indus Valley Capital also look
stores in Pakistan. It was established to running a business has not changed, until forward to building a partnership with
be a mobile-based e-commerce market by now. We will boost your company and Bazaar to revolutionize Pakistan’s retail
Hamza Jawaid and Saad Jangda, allowing your lives dramatically by taking them industry for $150 billion.

48 JANUARY 2021