File photo used for representation only.
Owing to multiple reasons including COVID-19 pandemic related precautions and restrictions, e-commerce sector in the country has witnessed a steady growth over the last several months.
Latest innovations in IT sector as well as popularity of online shopping platforms have also contributed in this rapid rise. There were 350 websites registered with the e-commerce directory of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) in June last year, while this number has grown to 494 e-commerce websites now showing an addition of 144 new websites.
A number of e-commerce websites are of the companies which employ hybrid model like well-known hypermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies, apparel outlets while there are many online-only commerce platforms serving in travel, tourism, and other retail sectors.
According to e-commerce portal of MoTC, Qatar’s e-commerce programme aims to create an environment conducive to the rapid adoption of e-commerce in the country by addressing its main inhibiting factors.
It also aims to establish set protocols and governance mechanisms that will foster and encourage the future expansion of online trading in Qatar, it added.
The country’s e-commerce program objectives and Road Map have been compiled through a thorough process, involving local, regional and international businesses with a significant interest in Qatari e-commerce – from product and service creation, to online purchasing, order fulfilment and delivery, according to MoTC portal.
Apart from identifying and removing key obstacles to building a successful online retail sector, the continued coordination, communication and collaboration between all stakeholders have also been recognised as critical to the effective implementation of the program’s objectives.
“The rising number of companies in e-commerce shows the huge potential in Qatar’s market. The e-commerce market in Qatar is set to grow further because many SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) are yet to adopt digital payment platforms. Also, due to COVID-19 restricts, consumers have got used to using digital payments. The pandemic has accelerated the momentum of e-commerce in Qatar,” a senior official of an IT company providing digital payment solutions told The Peninsula.
Qatar also launched ‘Theqa’ in 2019 which is Qatar’s very first e-commerce Trustmark and aims to boost and nurture online retail activity in the country by instilling a sense of trust that its e-commerce ecosystem is safe and secure.
