Page 74 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

MCIT Concludes Strategic Partnership with ‘JollyChic’ To Promote

E-Commerce

Ministry of Communications and priority fieldds and localizing their services. continents.” “The company’s operations
Information Technology (MCIT) has He stressed that it would have a positive provide a remarkable example of Chinese
signed a memorandum of understanding impact in creating job opportunities and businesses in the Kingdom that rely on
(MoU) for cooperation and knowledge localizing global technologies, in addition Saudi manpower and the growing digital
exchange with the leading e-commerce to qualifying national cadres in promising infrastructure. Under the MoU, JollyChic will
company ‘JollyChic’ on the sidelines of digital fields such as e-commerce, data share innovative technology mechanisms
the third session of the Future Investment center management, call centers, and with MCIT, and will make extensive efforts
Initiative (FII2019), taking place in Riyadh e-finance solutions. Al-Thunayan said, to upgrade local warehouse jobs, increase
from 29 to 31 October in Riyadh under the “Attracting such international companies delivery capacity and expand the national
auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy will enhance the competitiveness of the delivery network. The company intends
Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al market by supporting the expansion of to expand logistics facilitation measures
Saud –may Allah save him. JollyChic, as logistics services for e-stores and various in order to raise the level of warehouse
a remarkable e-commerce company and digital services that enable the Kingdom functioning and obtain licenses of Last
according to the MoU, intends to make new to seize the opportunity of its strategic Mile Delivery (LMD) in coordination with
investments in the Kingdom to enhance its location as the hub connecting the three the relevant regulators.
efforts in building a comprehensive digital
integrated local ecosystem as part of its
commitment to strengthen partnerships
with local entities, including government
agencies. The MoU was signed by Deputy
Minister for Technology and Digital
Capacities Development Dr. Ahmed Al-
Thenayyan and the founder and CEO of
JollyChic Mr. Aaron Li, in the presence
of His Excellency Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali,
Vice Minister of Communications and
Information Technology. Dr. Al-Thunayan
pointed out that this specific MoU came
within the ICT Strategy 2023 recently
endorsed by the Council of Ministers,
aimed at attracting foreign companies in

IT Sector Exports Witness 14 Percent Growth in Pakistan

Pakistan information technology sector PSEB briefed the federal secretary about 2019, and Norway and Canada-Pakistan
exports witnessed 14 percent growth in the PSEB performance during the period from ICT Forum held in Toronto in September.
first quarter (July-September) 2019-2020 July to September this year. The Secretary He further told that PSEB organized
and remained $234.607 million compared to was apprised that 14 percent increase in IT participation of 20 IT companies in ITCN
$205.797 million during the same period of exports has been witnessed in the period Asia 2019 held in Karachi in September.
the last year. This was revealed by officials from July-September 2019 as compared The Secretary was also apprised that
of the Ministry of Information Technology to first 3 months of the financial year 2018- PSEB arranged a training session for
and Telecommunication while talking to 19 as it increased from $205.797 million commercial counselors to apprise them of
Business Recorder. The officials said that to $234.607 million. The secretary was the IT industry of Pakistan. The chair was
following the directives of the Federal apprised that the number of PSEB registered told that the process for 11 IT companies’
Minister for Information Technology and IT and IT enabled services companies has international certifications, including ISO
Telecommunication, Secretary Ministry of risen to 2,059 as of September this year, as 27001, ISO20001 and CMMI level-2, has
IT and Telecommunication Shoaib Ahmad compared to 1,820 valid registrations by been initiated with the collaboration of
Siddiqui reviewed the performance of September 2018, showing a growth rate PSEB. The secretary appreciated the PSEB
Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) of 13.13 percent. The MD PSEB said that management for good performance during
during the first three months of Financial PSEB facilitated participation of Pakistan’s the first three months of financial year
Year 2019-20 (July-September). Managing IT companies in international events in 2019-20.
Director (MD) and senior management of GiTEX Dubai 2019, Pakistan Tech Summit
74 NOVEMBER 2019