E-commerce platform on way for kingdom’s businesses
The newly-launched ‘National Exporters Directory’ will develop into a full-fledged e-commerce platform next year allowing Bahrain-based businesses to sell their products and services to buyers in other countries.
This was revealed by Export Bahrain chief executive Safa AbdulKhaliq during a Press conference last week as she spoke about the national exporter database and connectivity platform, a first of its kind online reference point on ‘made in Bahrain’ products and services.
“This innovative solution is in keeping with Export Bahrain’s mission to increase global awareness of the capabilities of businesses based in Bahrain and will have a significant impact on the development of Bahraini enterprises’ clientele,” she said, adding, “By next year we hope to develop the platform integrating features such as shopping cart functionality, payment processing, shipping integration and customer support and also make it available as an app.”
Listing 70 suppliers in the launch phase, the database has been designed to allow for easy identification of exporters by category, industry, products, or services and access brief information about the companies along with pictures that reflect their products and services.
“The platform could be used to aid business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) deals and to support institutions to strengthen their international trade links,” she explained.
It also features a list of local exporters, their files, contact details and portfolios for their products and services.
The database operates on a subscription-based model with membership fees for exporters starting at BD50 annually.
However, it is free to use by both domestic and international buyers and manufacturers as they look to find high quality goods and services from the kingdom.
According to the official, 200 export-oriented enterprises are currently working with the agency as it targets the 20,000+ small and medium businesses that are registered with the government.
Ms AbdulKhaliq asserted that the directory was a key milestone in the agency’s efforts towards fostering and promoting a more competitive and export-driven economy by optimising the efficiency and marketability of Bahrain-based exporters.
Also speaking during the conference held at the Diwan Hub in The Terminal Adliya was Zainab Matrook, senior marketing officer and project lead at Export Bahrain, who stressed the importance of the National Exporters Directory and noted the role it will have in augmenting production capacity in the kingdom.
“Building an effective platform of connectivity and valuable knowledge of manufacturers, exporters, providers of services, and markets is essential to creating a direct path to global markets and buyers,” she added.
“We at Export Bahrain are positive that the directory will greatly benefit local businesses and enhance their operations as they establish an early foothold in global export markets, placing them in front of many global buyers looking to source from the kingdom.”
The directory is available here.
