Oman MoCI's e-commerce and services initiatives praised by users

Not only have the initiatives helped in controlling the spread of COVID-19, but also have other advantages over purchasing from local markets, many of them have said.

They said that these procedures were keeping pace with the developments, methods and modern systems of buying and selling through electronic channels.

They have also stressed that the e-commerce was important considering the spread of the Corona virus (Covid 19).

It helps in achieving the desired objective of the concerned authorities to ensure safety of the individuals by avoiding direct contact between people either for selling or purchasing or any other dealings.

They said that the e-commerce and automation of the measures in the commercial activity in the Sultanate would help in achieving many major objectives including transparency in the transactions.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has emphasised that it was necessary for the consumers to confirm before purchasing online from electronic platforms and while transferring money that these companies were registered in the Sultanate and have a commercial registration in the country.

They consumers can verify registration of these companies in the Sultanate through the ‘Invest Easy’ portal www..

Abdullah bin Nasir Al-Bahrani, Senior Director, Digital Services, Omantel, said: Digital services are adopted by those who had a real desire to help the beneficiaries of institutional services, whether they are commercial or general. For this transformation, a pandemic like COVID 19 is not required.

Al-Bahrani said: The importance of e-commerce is realised when there is a pandemic Corona virus (Covid 19). The e-commerce is helping the concerned authorities in ensuring the safety of individuals by preventing direct contact between individuals for sale, purchase, transactions or meetings. It also guarantees the progress of business in institutions of all types of specialties, especially those of services sectors.

What distinguishes e-commerce or automation of the procedures in the commercial activity in the Sultanate is that there are data which will help achieve many major goals. Some of the most important goals are: transparency between the service provider and it’s beneficiary, availability of the service at the press of a button without need to increase the rush or cause pollution by the movement of vehicles and instant monitoring of the service by the officials which helps increase the performance of the service and its improvement. The analysis of the data of the electronic services helps the decision makers to take appropriate and judicious decisions, he said.

Abdullah Al-Bahrani pointed out that the use of various digital commercial platforms has helped in the spread of Oman’s trade abroad. It has also helped the local and foreign investors to know about it and deal with it. This is also helpful in the spread of Omani products and helped their owners in attracting foreign investments which could create opportunities of success inside the Sultanate.

Said bin Nasir Al-Maini, owner of a number of import companies, lauded the measures taken by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He said: The Ministry encourages innovative electronic initiatives and services. The establishment of the e-commerce department in the ministry and its procedures help in regulation and development of the sector. He said that these measures keep pace with developments and modern methods and systems of buying and selling through electronic channels.

Said Al-Maini said: My experience with imports started long time ago. I imported several commodities such as foodstuffs, electronics, building materials, as well as furniture from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey and Indonesia and fertilizers and pesticides from Egypt also veterinary medicines from Italy and various goods from India, Iran and Jordan. He stressed that the best thing for the businessman was that there was difference in value. If you are an importer and distributor, it is better than waiting for commodity in the markets of the neighbouring countries.

Direct import from the countries of origin has lots of benefits in the Sultanate, including the use of ports and warehouses, as well as means of transportation including trucks, said Al-Maini. He said that Omanis have established their own companies to import various goods as happened recently for import of vegetables and fruits from the countries of origin. This creates jobs for the Omani youth either in officers, or at various outlets for clearing transactions.

Yousuf bin Salim Al Habsi, one of the dealers who uses e-commerce platforms, said that buying through websites from outside and inside the Sultanate had several advantages, including verity of products. Also, through it, one can purchase products which are not available in the local markets. One can view different goods online, compare them in various websites in terms of quality and prices. Some time, the same commodity is available in the Sultanate’s markets, but the prices online can be lower.

Said bin Sulaiman Al-Busaidi, one of the dealers in electronic commerce, said: I used to buy luxuries from websites and import goods through shipping companies, because e-commerce and direct import have many benefits for the consumers, as there are several options, offers and varieties in different countries. It helps significantly in reducing prices because the commodity comes directly from the exporting country to the consumers’ country without passing through other countries which require mediators. He said that the e-commerce method provided speed in the arrival of the goods to the consumer. This is an important thing for the customer, for example, the commodity comes from China and goes to a neighboring country and then goes to the Sultanate via land routes. This takes additional time and cost. This can be avoided by e-commerce and direct import. With this method, the arrival of goods to the consumer takes less time as there is no need to go to the market to search and purchase them.

Said Al-Busaidi said that the recent measures taken by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and its encouragement to online purchasing has helped many home business owners, small, medium and large enterprises in promote of their products. He said that the use of modern methods and technologies for the marketing of products has played a role in the Increase of the income of these groups. He said that everyone should adhere to the correct procedures for entering data to ensure the confidence of customers in commercial transactions from inside and outside the Sultanate as well as to protect themselves from falling into the trap of fraud.

Muhammad bin Salem Al-Buraiki, one of the online shoppers of accessories, lauded the “Shopping from Your Home” initiative launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Twitter. This initiative was in accordance by the measures taken by the Supreme Committee in charge of dealing with the developments arising out of the spread of Corona virus (Covid-19). He said that the initiative has helped in directing a lot of sales and purchases to electronic applications for shopping from stores, restaurants, cafes, etc. In addition to this, the initiative has also helped in avoiding mixing in crowded places and with other shoppers to prevent transmission of Corona virus.

Hilal bin Ali Al-Hashmi, one of the buyers of vehicles via e-commerce, says: With the spread of e-commerce which has no limits, you can order goods from the countries of origin and import them directly to the ports of the Sultanate. e-Commerce has become important for fast and direct communication inside and outside the Sultanate. Some of the websites have become more popular and reliable. Because of the strong electronic security in the Sultanate, this type of commercial activity has become common.

Faisal bin Salim Al-Ma’wali, a shopper of clothes from China, said that shopping through electronic markets and websites has become the perfect choice for many individuals and companies. People can shop from the country of origin and receive the goods through direct import. It saves cost and time. There are also lots of offers which reduces the prices.

The Ministry encourages home business owners, small, medium and large enterprises to promote their products, and use modern methods and technologies for marketing inside and outside the Sultanate. However, this should be within the framework of home business licenses or the usual commercial registration to protect the rights of both the seller and the buyer and to ensure the confidence of dealers in commercial transactions from inside and outside the Sultanate. This helps in avoiding fraud.