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Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) has partnered with Seamless Webinar to host an online discussion on how to build an e-commerce business swiftly and efficiently. The session, which is scheduled to be held at 11 AM (GST) on May 13, 2020, will feature Athbi Al-Enezi, Co-Founder of JustClean, Kuwait; Ammar Akhtar, Chief Executive Officer, Finalrentals; and Leena Khalil, CCO / Co-Founder, Mumzworld; alongside Sheikha Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of Marketing and Sales, Ajman Free Zone and will be moderated by Sowmya Iyer, Founder and CEO, DViO Digital. The free to attend webinar will dive deep into the finer aspects of e-commerce business and will examine how the drastic changes brought about by the COVID-19 crisis changed customer voices and preferences, further adding to the significance of e-commerce.

As the number of registrants have already reached to more than 450 and is expected to increase, the online event is set to welcome participants in addressing several topics, including how to start an e-commerce business activity and what are the solutions and features available in the country. The panel discussion will explore validation of product ideas and their potential market; selection of the right sales channel mix for your business; the advantages of third-party marketplaces; driving targeted traffic for positive customer acquisition; balancing usability with design; and abiding by a lean strategy model for profit prioritization; in addition to assessing the importance of alternate payment options.

At a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6 per cent between 2020 and 2024, the global e-commerce market volume is expected to touch USD 3.004 million by 2024. In terms of e-commerce growth in the region, the digital boom has spurred its growth, with the UAE rapidly becoming a regional hub for e-commerce activities. Thanks to the widespread use of mobile phones; high adoption by tech-savvy millennials who account for 30 per cent of the population; secure digital payment systems; and robust government support, e-commerce in the UAE is growing at a phenomenal rate of 23 per cent every year. With a penetration rate of 4.2 per cent, the UAE has the most advanced e-commerce market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Ajman Free Zone has been witnessing a huge boom in the business as companies take advantage of the benefits from a package of services provided to the e-commerce sector and launch the selling of products via the Internet. The Free Zone has also witnessed an increase in demand for the e-commerce package and package for independent professionals during the past six months, following the robust variety of solutions and features that enable business leaders to establish their business according to their needs. Starting companies can choose from offices of various sizes and in various strategic locations as well as warehouses adjacent to the Ajman Port and nearby airports and benefit from a network of roads that facilitate transport of goods for distribution.

Commenting on the webinar, Sheikha Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of Marketing & Sales, Ajman Free Zone, said: “The ongoing pandemic crisis has once again underscored the need for e-commerce strategies for businesses. We saw that countries that responded to the COVID-19 crisis by immediately employing new technologies, enforcing lockdowns, and preparing for the worst-case scenarios were able to contain the situation faster and more effectively. Although moving your business online in the face of the crisis can be highly beneficial, there are certain factors that must be taken into consideration before doing so.”

The drastic changes brought about by the COVID-19 crisis have also led to significant changes in customer voices and habits. Although e-commerce has always witnessed growth, the COVID-19 outbreak has underlined its importance in ensuring the resilience and long-term sustainability of any business. Digitalization and everything it implies plays a huge role in enhancing an organization’s emergency preparedness and ability to recover from it.