The activities of the E-commerce Tour organized by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) in partnership with the E-commerce Council concluded yesterday in Riyadh. The tour featured the participation of a group of experts, service providers, and e-commerce specialists.
The tour's events included a speech by the E-commerce Council, as well as a panel discussion titled "Developing an Enabling Environment for E-commerce Development in the Kingdom." The discussion focused on the importance of e-commerce in various government sectors, including transportation, rural affairs, municipal affairs, housing, and its role in supporting SMEs. It also highlighted the challenges they face and reviewed the proposed solutions to overcome them.
Dr. Omaima Bamasak, the Deputy Director of Transport Empowerment at the Transport General Authority emphasized during the panel discussion that the unprecedented demand in e-commerce has led to rapid development in the field of delivery services. This has provided incentives for the sector and strengthened partnerships with both the public and private sectors. She also mentioned the authority's intention to launch the second edition of the Transport Hackathon in collaboration with Monsha’at, aiming to benefit from emerging technologies and innovations in the sector.
Dr. Khaled Al-Shathri, the Director of Emerging Technologies at the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, explained that the market value of modern delivery companies surpasses that of traditional companies in the sector. He also highlighted how cloud computing has contributed to saving time, effort, and reducing costs in the commerce sector. He pointed out that the use of Internet of Things (IoT) has facilitated inventory management for e-commerce stores and the development of new and innovative business models.
Mohammed Al-Mulhem, the General Supervisor of the Licensing and Compliance Agency at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, stated, "The ministry has provided the necessary legislative environment for closed stores that offer innovative business models for retail shops." He explained that cloud kitchens have brought about a transformation for Saudi brands, with the ministry providing licenses for cloud kitchens in a faster time compared to obtaining licenses for traditional stores. The ministry has also worked with Monsha’at to determine fines and violations based on the size of the enterprise. He encouraged entrepreneurs to quickly obtain the enterprise size certificate through the Monsha’at website.
During the panel discussion “Future Trends and the Role of the Private Sector in E-commerce Development”, participants emphasized the importance of e-commerce. Hamad Al-Bakr, the Chief Commercial Officer of Jahez, highlighted the significant advancements in payment services in the Kingdom. Legislative changes and the completion of infrastructure have enhanced the use of various payment services for merchants and customers. Sultan Al-Anzi, the CEO of Tap Payments, emphasized the importance of providing electronic payment services in serving customers and achieving the Kingdom's goal of reaching 60% of electronic payment transactions. Walid Al-Sulami, the General Manager of Product Management (E-commerce, Financial, and Digital product management) at SPL, mentioned SPL’s aim to deliver packages in less than an hour in the coming years, while the shortened address service has facilitated e-commerce.
The Riyadh Tour witnessed the signing of a joint agreement between Monsha’at and the Riyadh Chamber, aiming to support entrepreneurs and SMEs in the field of e-commerce. The agreement includes a package of training programs and advisory sessions designed to enhance the e-commerce environment in the Kingdom and address the challenges faced by entrepreneurs during the growth of their ventures.
Monsha’at will continue its E-commerce Tour in Madinah, which is the fourth stop out of 14 tours across the Kingdom. The event will take place on October 9-10 at the SMEs Support Center, with the objective of promoting and developing the e-commerce sector in the region and enabling entrepreneurs to access all the services and facilities provided by relevant entities.
Monsha’at is committed to enhancing the capabilities of entrepreneurs in the field of e-commerce through specialized initiatives and programs, given their importance and active role in supporting the SME sector. Interested individuals can benefit from and register for the e-commerce tour, which offers its services free of charge, through the following link:
https://ectour.monshaat.gov.sa/