Page 74 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Bahrain ‘Ready to Compete Globally in e-Commerce Sector’

Bahrain is ready to compete regionally and field. "Individual e-commerce experiences platforms that serve as a mediator
globally in the field of e-commerce, said in the GCC states are now similar to those between merchants and consumers.
Sadiq Abdul Rasool, Chief Digital Officer in major developed countries in terms of "Many consumers today interact with
of Bahrain's leading E-commerce platform infrastructure, logistical network, advanced brands in novel ways. Today's Bahraini
Homiez.me. According to Rasool, this is FinTech, turnout, and other elements, as consumer is more interested in value than
dependent on several factors, including the the difference in the e-commerce index in brands. Every Bahraini household now
availability of a fast, reliable, and widespread between the six Gulf countries and the first has access to e-commerce. Bahrainis
internet service, the orientation of more six countries globally, decreases to less today value speed, performance, security,
citizens and residents for digital shopping, than 17% in 2021, from more than 35% and the ease with which they may find
the availability of banking services and before 2019,” he said. Rasool explained consumer goods. It formerly concentrated
digital financial transfer services, and the that the habits of Bahraini consumers on intangible values such as appearance
presence of national competencies capable differed as a result of the Corona pandemic and brand personality,” Rasool said. In
of creating and developing more stores and and the orientation of digital solutions, his speech during the conference Abdul
digital platforms.During his participation at those transformations that were imposed Rasool addressed more technical topics,
the recently concluded Seamless Middle on many large markets and brands that such as meeting user needs in the shadow
East 2022 in Dubai, Abdul Rasool pointed quickly turned into digital solutions, the of technology and the basic engines of the
out that this development witnessed by most notable of which was the significant market, even in the retail and distribution
Bahrain in the field of e-commerce is part of increase in the number of applications sectors, emphasizing that the digital
the development of the GCC states in this for stores and stores, and e-commerce experience today is very different, and it
has its own identity that affects consumer
feelings and desires. He stated that the
"Homiez" platform seeks to support national
efforts aimed at revitalizing markets and
commercial movement in Bahrain, as well
as encouraging more Bahraini business
owners and merchants to take advantage
of the benefits of this type of shopping, in
addition to providing consumers, citizens,
and residents with a variety of options in
one place. Abdul Rasool pointed out that
the "Homiez" platform, which was launched
in Bahrain in 2018, is now providing more
than 50,000 products from 400 Bahraini
vendors and 1,000 brands, noting that this
expansion was based on many factors,
including the pre-emptive vision of the
future of e-commerce and innovation.

Lebanon’s Struggling Cellcos: Mobile Tariff Increase ‘Urgent and Imperative’

Lebanon’s two state-owned mobile network of all public and private sectors, including reduced annual expenses from USD560
operators Touch and Alfa have issued a joint hospitalization and banks, factories, million in 2018 to approximately USD255
statement arguing for an urgent increase in hotels and various companies, as they million, this figure in addition to USD40
mobile service tariffs to be implemented depend in their operating systems on the million annual suppliers’ dues i.e. totaling
via government decree. The cellcos stated telecommunications sector.’ According to USD295 million, represents roughly four
that ‘the adoption of the decree to amend the two companies’ combined figures, their times their current yearly income, hence
the prices of mobile telecommunications annual income in dollar terms ‘declined the requirement to adopt an amendment
has become an urgent and imperative from USD1.4 billion in 2018 to only USD75 decree to alter mobile tariffs ‘as soon as
need to ensure the continuity of the sector, million currently, as per the black market possible, to curb this decline in revenues
otherwise the future of the two companies exchange rate’ due to the economic crisis and be able to maintain the viability of the
and the sector in general will be in danger, afflicting Lebanon since 2019. Touch and mobile telecommunications sector’.
which will also be reflected in the future Alfa point out that although they collectively

74 MAY-JUNE 2022