Tejari partners with Excellent Systems to expand into East Africa

Through its partnership with Excellent Systems Limited, Tejari aims to build a dedicated online portal to connect businesses from East Africa to the rest of the world.

Currently trade between the two countries and the UAE is very high, with the emirates accounting for 13.3% of total exports and 12% of total imports in Uganda and 13.2% of total imports in Tanzania. As such, e-commerce is the natural next step to ensure a smooth and efficient trading process between the nations.

Commenting on this partnership, Omar Hijazi, CEO of Tejari, said:

"Our move to East Africa marks one more milestone in Tejari's mission to be the leading online B2B marketplace for the emerging markets. Our alliance with Excellent Systems will create a powerful platform that aims to provide the much needed link between businesses in East Africa and those in the Middle Eastern region. Africa needs more trade not aid and Tejari takes pride in empowering businesses in East Africa to expand their opportunities and embrace advanced technologies."

Excellent Systems started in Oman since 2002, the trading company specializes in information technology, commodities, telecommunication and properties, expanded to trade in the telecoms and aviation industry in East Africa, starting with Tanzania.

In 2006, the company was awarded a telecom license to operate in Tanzania with a local partner, Jitco Limited and Hits Africa Telecom. It was also awarded a telecom license in Uganda.

"We are delighted to work with Tejari as we further expand into new territories," said Yahya Ahmed Al Rawai, Managing Director of Excellent Systems Limited. "Africa is a rapidly growing economy with a market for innovative ideas and business opportunities. Through working with Tejari, we look forward to achieving remarkable results and providing value added services to our customers that are focused on enhancing efficiency and transparency."

The level of transparency in Uganda and Tanzania is currently quite low. Improvements have however emerged recently as e-government initiatives have been embarked upon in both countries to increase efficiency, promote transparency and enforce standardised policies. Tejari strongly advocates these factors and as such this move ties in with the government initiatives to boost transparency in trade.

This pioneering venture has opened doors for companies in Uganda and Tanzania to trade online and access buyers and sellers from emerging markets. Tejari aims to significantly boost the e-Readiness ranking of these countries as it has successfully done in UAE, Egypt, and China, amongst other countries. This will be accomplished through an increase in transparency and the adoption of e-Commerce by SMEs and exporters alike.

Tejari will develop the e-Readiness skills of local companies in the region by providing them with appropriate e-Commerce training, regardless of the size of the business.

Tejari will enable businesses to buy, sell and connect. It also provides B2B matchmaking services such as online showrooms to display products and services. It will also provide users with patented electronic trust marks to ensure secure transactions, readymade networks of relevant businesses, and bidding opportunities.

Tejari, the leading online B2B marketplace for emerging markets is a perfect example of the innovative spirit of Dubai. The company, launched by the government of Dubai, is one of the most successful units of Dubai World, a holding company that is responsible for much of the emirate's phenomenal economic growth. The online trading portal helps facilitate trade between companies and geographies through the largest buyer network in the Middle East thereby ensuring that more and more business in the UAE and emerging markets are becoming "e-ready".