As per agreement, Hashoo Group will be the operator of Tejari Pakistan and will offer online procurement services to both government departments and the private business community in Pakistan.
Tejari Pakistan will enable all registered companies to find, compare and procure products and services needed for day-to-day running of their businesses. It will also allow companies to network and connect with the larger number of buyers and suppliers in Pakistan and the Middle East region.
Aimed at automating and streamlining the administration and procurement cycle, the e- procurement solutions will help companies in Pakistan identify and compare prices online, enhance transparency and lower costs associated with paper-based procurement processes.
Providing an impetus to the existing economic and trade ties between UAE and Pakistan, Tejari Pakistan signals the growth and adoption of e-commerce among the business community in one of Asia's fast emerging nations.
Recent years have seen the two nations strengthen its bilateral trade agreements with a significant focus on investments in the telecommunications, technology and the construction sector. UAE is the largest investor in Pakistan, in 2004 to 2006 alone UAE invested more than US$5 billion in various projects in the country.
"The launch of Tejari Pakistan comes at a time where both the nations have paved a way for mutual co-operation and understanding in the business and political arena. With all the large scale investments in the public and private sector, Pakistan is growing at an accelerated rate and expanding across all business sectors. In order to meet these needs and demands of a growing nation, it essential that the business communities have access to online procurement of goods and services,"
said Mr. Murtaza Hashwani, Chief Executive, Hashoo Group of companies, Pakistan.
"As one of the largest business group in Pakistan, we are well aware of the market and business trends in the country and will be able to replicate the success that Tejari and its e-procurement solutions have demonstrated in other countries across the Middle East", he concluded.
"Tejari has been aggressively targeting new markets to cultivate greater adoption of online procurement. Pakistan is one such market which has tremendous opportunities and exhibits huge growth potential. We are extremely pleased to be working with one of the most respected groups in Pakistan. Partnering with Hashoo Group has been a major milestone for Tejari as this is our first operation outside the Middle East region ," said Omar Hijazi, CEO of Tejari.
"Our aim is to continue providing superior e-commerce service and consultancy in addition to maximizing trading potential for the business communities in Pakistan" concluded Omar.
Tejari, which means 'Trade' in Arabic, has a strong presence in the Middle East region with offices in Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon and UAE. Tejari Pakistan expects to be fully operational by late 2006. In the coming months, Tejari plans to sign on new members and expand its reach further in the Pakistani market.


Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News Editor



