Department of Economic Development and Tejari sign landmark agreement

The agreement is an extension of the vision of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a knowledge-based, Internet-connected economy.

All organizations licensed by the DED, will soon have automatic access to 'Tejari LINK' - the service that enables online market-making for businesses of all sizes and is facilitated through a quick and affordable one-time registration on the Tejari trading community.

'One of the strategic objectives of the DED includes expanding the reach of Dubai-based companies in the international business arena by facilitating them to move their operations onto a global platform,' said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Director General, DED. 'This agreement with Tejari is in accordance with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's strategy to increase e-business activity in Dubai and will serve to raise the visibility of local companies by enabling potential international customers and suppliers to meet on a global platform. In addition, it will give the DED a new source of economic data about the trading initiatives taking place within the emirate,' he added.

This initiative is specifically supportive of Dubai's small- and medium-sized businesses. 'The SMB sector is unquestionably the fastest-growing segment of Dubai's economy, given that Dubai is positioning itself as a haven for entrepreneurs. Together, DED and Tejari are set to get Dubai's mid-tier businesses online and working together in pursuit of cost-savings and wider market opportunities,' Tejari Chairman Sultan bin Sulayem commented.

As part of the partnership, both new companies completing business registration procedures with the DED and existing Dubai-based businesses will receive Tejari membership, through which they can showcase their goods and services online. This alliance highlights the efforts of the DED and Tejari to make online commerce a straightforward and beneficial trading mechanism for companies of every size and scope.

Tejari CEO Omar Hijazi, who signed the agreement with DED, highlighted the benefits of the partnership. 'Our mission at Tejari is to play a pioneering role in transforming Middle East commerce. Transitioning to a knowledge-based economy requires shifting companies on to the Internet and having them connected to each other online to bring about widespread electronic trading and contracting. No other nation has ever executed this kind of initiative. It is unique. It exemplifies Dubai and the leadership of the DED.'

'The agreement with Tejari is in line with our strategy to offer value-added services to our customers and complements Dubai's focus on e-government and e-business while creating more robust trading ties between organizations operating in Dubai' said Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General for Executive Affairs, DED. 'The automatic access to 'Tejari LINK' will increase the potential of new opportunities to present themselves to our local companies by facilitating their interactions with prospective international trading partners. It will also enable the company to take advantage of new automated transaction technologies,' he added.

Through Tejari LINK, the new service by Tejari set to be launched in the first quarter of 2006, these organizations will automatically receive a designated website to ensure a significant web presence for each company. In addition, they will be added to a national online directory, join a message centre to facilitate trading leads, and receive space for electronic product showrooms and e-exhibition functionality. Tejari and DED anticipate that the integration between Tejari LINK and DED licensing will take place later this year.