Tejari launches Oman operations

The new franchise, Tejari Oman, will enable both government departments and private organizations to source goods and services through the online trading hub, enhancing transparency and lowering the costs associated with paper-based procurement processes.

Coming at a time when Omani officials hope to finalize a pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, the launch of Tejari Oman will complement the Sultanate's ongoing efforts to enhance trade liberalization as well as e-government practices.

"The timing of Tejari Oman is ideal given the demand for increased transparency in trade from both the public and private sectors," said Tariq Al Amri, vice president of OmanTel and chairman of the new venture. "Tejari Oman will contribute significantly to Oman's e-government initiatives while enabling its members to cut the time and costs traditionally associated with the procurement function."

Tejari Oman's immediate objectives, following the opening of its offices, will be to open discussions with key stakeholders in the community such as procurement managers from Oman's major industries and ministry officials. Some of the early adopters of Tejari Oman's electronic procurement services are likely to be the aviation, telecoms and energy sectors.

"There is already a considerable amount of understanding in this market about the advantages of trading online - Oman's largest organizations have been anticipating the launch of Tejari here, given our close ties to the other GCC countries where Tejari operates - so we expect a rapid adoption of the new marketplace," Al Amri added.

The partnership was finalized during a meeting between OmanTel's Al Amri and Tejari's recently-appointed chief executive officer, Omar Hijazi.

"In direct response to customer feedback, regional and international expansion are among my core objectives for the next twelve months. Bringing Oman into the Tejari network of operations complements our existing offices in the GCC and Levant while providing new trading opportunities for our members," Hijazi commented.

With its proximity to the UAE and long-established trading links, Oman adds important new procurement opportunities to the Tejari marketplace. Tejari's regional management has highlighted the benefits of partnering with OmanTel in the company's ongoing regional expansion effort.

"We welcome our new partners to the Tejari family - the power of Tejari is driven by its network. Not only does OmanTel have demonstrated expertise in telecommunications and Internet service provision, it is also a privatized organization, lending a strong element of neutrality to Tejari Oman that should attract both commercial and government interests," continued Hijazi.

Once its staffing, marketing, and licensing requirements are established, Tejari Oman expects to be fully operational by late 2005.