The UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) called for the faster development of  eCommerce sector in the Gulf, during the recently held fourth annual IEEE-GCC Conference and Exhibition in Bahrain.

Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi, the undersecretary – planning sector, MoE, UAE, delivered a keynote speech on eCommerce and its future in the GCC region on behalf of Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of Economy, on the opening day of the four day event.

Alshihhi also noted that the development of eCommerce would be one of the major techno-industrial innovations likely to shape regional economies and business models in the future.

“The UAE Ministry of Economy fully supports the development of eCommerce, as it presents a very viable corridor to achieving long-term economic sustainability, and is also an effective method of engaging our citizens and promoting further development within our region.  There is still the opportunity for businesses in the UAE and the other Gulf states to effectively multiply their earnings simply by implementing and engaging a powerful eCommerce platform,” Alshihhi said.

More than 600 delegates from 22 countries attended the event, which was organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of GCC countries (IEEE-GCC).  A number of high-profile speakers addressed the topic: ‘Towards techno-industrial innovations’, and outlined the benefits of eCommerce, such as an expanded geographical reach and boosted customer base; increased visibility; continuous customer communication; 24 hour availability; stronger customer loyalty; reduced marketing and advertising costs; and greater access to customer preferences.

During the keynote address, Alshihhi also highlighted how the Middle East represents one of the world’s most promising markets for the development of eCommerce, based on its average annual ICT growth rate in excess of 35 per cent. 

“Potentially every one of the region’s internet users could use eCommerce on a regular basis in the near future, which is why we encourage regular technology upgrades to facilitate this trend.  In doing so, I am confident that our countries will become vibrant commerce hubs that wield the power to transform our economies of the future,” Alshihhi added.

The 4th annual IEEE-GCC Conference and Exhibition was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.—TradeArabia News Service