Saudi E-commerce Growth Rate Exceeds 32%

Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi at the event organized by the E-commerce Council in cooperation with the Joint Saudi-British Business Council (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi at the event organized by the E-commerce Council in cooperation with the Joint Saudi-British Business Council (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi E-commerce Growth Rate Exceeds 32%

Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi at the event organized by the E-commerce Council in cooperation with the Joint Saudi-British Business Council (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi at the event organized by the E-commerce Council in cooperation with the Joint Saudi-British Business Council (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is one of the top ten countries in e-commerce, achieving an annual growth rate of more than 32 percent, announced Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi.

Speaking at a seminar on the "Role of E-commerce in Strengthening the Saudi-British Economic Partnership," Qasabi stressed that strengthening the e-commerce business system is one of the goals of the National Transformation Program of Vision 2030.

He highlighted the significance of e-commerce in strengthening the national economy.

The E-commerce Council organized the event in cooperation with the Saudi-British Joint Business Council in London, which was attended by the Saudi ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, and the Honorary President of the Joint Saudi British Business Council, Baroness Symons, from the British side.

Qasabi chaired a high-level Saudi delegation that included representatives from 11 government agencies.

Deputy Minister of Commerce and General Supervisor of the E-commerce Council Iman al-Mutairi said that Saudi Arabia improved and reformed its e-commerce legislation and regulations, which created substantial growth opportunities in the field.

Mutairi noted that market growth reached $43.2 billion in 2021.

Several Saudi authorities in public and private sectors reviewed investment opportunities mainly in digital infrastructure, financial technology, electronic payment, logistics and transportation and last-mile delivery solutions.

They also reviewed electronic services related to the quality of life such as e-health, e-learning, entertainment, games, and others, in addition to dealing with cooperation and bilateral partnership in light of the high growth achieved by e-commerce.

Saudi authorities at the event included representatives from the ministries of trade, investment, transport, and logistics, the Saudi Central Bank (Sama), the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority, the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (Monshaat), the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the National Competitiveness Center (NCC), the Saudi Business Center, and the Saudi Post.

The Saudi delegation continues its visit to London by touring several business accelerators and incubators, most notably "TechUK," concerned with trade and technology.

TechUK collaborates with the British government and about 850 members in various sectors to form and accelerate trade policies.

The Saudi officials will also visit Level39, a tech community consisting of 1250 leaders in cybersecurity and the UK's largest concentration of cyber expertise.

Saudi Arabia recently witnessed great steps to develop and strengthen its economic relationship with Britain leading to promising opportunities in its Vision 2030.



Saudi Arabia Secures Top Spot in Arab Region, 20th Globally in QI4SD

A drone view shows the last supermoon of 2024 dubbed "Beaver Moon" during early hours of moon-rise over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the last supermoon of 2024 dubbed "Beaver Moon" during early hours of moon-rise over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Saudi Arabia Secures Top Spot in Arab Region, 20th Globally in QI4SD

A drone view shows the last supermoon of 2024 dubbed "Beaver Moon" during early hours of moon-rise over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the last supermoon of 2024 dubbed "Beaver Moon" during early hours of moon-rise over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia came first in the Arab region Middle East and North Africa in the Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index (QI4SD) 2024 released biennially by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

It also came in the 20th position globally, climbing 25 places compared to the 2022 index.

Key elements of quality infrastructure assessed in the index encompass standards, metrology, standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, and national policies.

Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Authority (SASO) Governor Dr. Saad bin Othman Al-Qasbi said the positions in the index mirror the national efforts led by SASO in collaboration with the Saudi Accreditation Center and pertinent stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

These positions bolster Saudi Arabia's global standing and help achieve a more prosperous and competitive economy, he added in a statement.

Al-Qasbi praised the evolution of the Kingdom's quality system and its impact on living standards, economic growth, and business operations, which have contributed to Saudi Arabia's advancements in global rankings.

Saudi Arabia's place among the top 20 nations is testimony to its dedication to boosting quality infrastructure and refining its legal framework and regulations.