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    Saudi Arabia’s agricultural GDP grew 38% to $26.6bn in 2022

    Saudi Arabia’s agricultural GDP grew 38% to $26.6bn in 2022

    Arab states imported 1.73 million agricultural commodities from Egypt

    Arab states imported 1.73 million agricultural commodities from Egypt

    Wheat yield boom boosts Oman’s food security

    Wheat yield boom boosts Oman’s food security

    Saudi Arabia seeks $20 bln investment in food industry, aims to double exports

    Saudi Arabia seeks $20 bln investment in food industry, aims to double exports

    Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for food production advancement supported by ICRISAT-FAO partnership

    Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for food production advancement supported by ICRISAT-FAO partnership

    Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

    Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

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    • Business & Economy
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      Saudi: 53 new industrial licenses issued in April 2023

      Saudi: 53 new industrial licenses issued in April 2023

      Qatar’s non-oil sector maintains growth as PMI hits 53.8 in June

      Qatar’s non-oil sector maintains growth as PMI hits 53.8 in June

      Saudi transport authority approves 15 licensing, technical guides for railways

      Saudi transport authority approves 15 licensing, technical guides for railways

      Number of industrial decisions up by 10.56% to 356 in 2021

      Number of industrial decisions up by 10.56% to 356 in 2021

      Egypt’s macroeconomic conditions improving, says minister

      Egypt’s macroeconomic conditions improving, says minister

      Number of BIA passengers up by 26.90% annually YTD APRIL 2023

      Number of BIA passengers up by 26.90% annually YTD APRIL 2023

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      • CES 2017
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      Oman’s health ministry expected to award construction contract for two health centres in Q3

      Oman’s health ministry expected to award construction contract for two health centres in Q3

      Properties sold in May 2023 jump 114.6%, says Qatar’s PSA

      Properties sold in May 2023 jump 114.6%, says Qatar’s PSA

      Oman releases more Sultan Haitham City details

      Oman releases more Sultan Haitham City details

      Construction activity in Saudi Arabia reaches highest level in years: Survey

      Construction activity in Saudi Arabia reaches highest level in years: Survey

      Oman gears up for its first smart city

      Oman gears up for its first smart city

      Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

      Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

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        NEOM’s green hydrogen project is formally under execution: ACWA Power

        NEOM’s green hydrogen project is formally under execution: ACWA Power

        Ministry of Petroleum announces $9B investment towards oil refining and petrochemical projects

        Ministry of Petroleum announces $9B investment towards oil refining and petrochemical projects

        Oman’s huge renewable hydrogen potential can bring multiple benefits in its journey to net zero emissions

        Oman’s huge renewable hydrogen potential can bring multiple benefits in its journey to net zero emissions

        UN-HABITAT partners with LCEC, expanding efforts to provide responsible renewable energy solutions in Lebanon

        UN-HABITAT partners with LCEC, expanding efforts to provide responsible renewable energy solutions in Lebanon

        Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

        Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

        Total-led consortium to start drilling offshore Lebanon in September

        Total-led consortium to start drilling offshore Lebanon in September

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        • Hospitality
          Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

          Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

          Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

          Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

          Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

          Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

          Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

          Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

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        • Agrofood
          • All
          • Agriculture
          • Environment
          • Food
          Saudi Arabia’s agricultural GDP grew 38% to $26.6bn in 2022

          Saudi Arabia’s agricultural GDP grew 38% to $26.6bn in 2022

          Arab states imported 1.73 million agricultural commodities from Egypt

          Arab states imported 1.73 million agricultural commodities from Egypt

          Wheat yield boom boosts Oman’s food security

          Wheat yield boom boosts Oman’s food security

          Saudi Arabia seeks $20 bln investment in food industry, aims to double exports

          Saudi Arabia seeks $20 bln investment in food industry, aims to double exports

          Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for food production advancement supported by ICRISAT-FAO partnership

          Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for food production advancement supported by ICRISAT-FAO partnership

          Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

          Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

          Trending Tags

          • Business & Economy
            • All
            • Business
            • Economy
            • Finance
            • Industry
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Transport & Logistics
            Saudi: 53 new industrial licenses issued in April 2023

            Saudi: 53 new industrial licenses issued in April 2023

            Qatar’s non-oil sector maintains growth as PMI hits 53.8 in June

            Qatar’s non-oil sector maintains growth as PMI hits 53.8 in June

            Saudi transport authority approves 15 licensing, technical guides for railways

            Saudi transport authority approves 15 licensing, technical guides for railways

            Number of industrial decisions up by 10.56% to 356 in 2021

            Number of industrial decisions up by 10.56% to 356 in 2021

            Egypt’s macroeconomic conditions improving, says minister

            Egypt’s macroeconomic conditions improving, says minister

            Number of BIA passengers up by 26.90% annually YTD APRIL 2023

            Number of BIA passengers up by 26.90% annually YTD APRIL 2023

            Trending Tags

            • CES 2017
            • Election Results
            • eSports
          • Construction
            • All
            • Infrastructure
            • Real Estate
            Oman’s health ministry expected to award construction contract for two health centres in Q3

            Oman’s health ministry expected to award construction contract for two health centres in Q3

            Properties sold in May 2023 jump 114.6%, says Qatar’s PSA

            Properties sold in May 2023 jump 114.6%, says Qatar’s PSA

            Oman releases more Sultan Haitham City details

            Oman releases more Sultan Haitham City details

            Construction activity in Saudi Arabia reaches highest level in years: Survey

            Construction activity in Saudi Arabia reaches highest level in years: Survey

            Oman gears up for its first smart city

            Oman gears up for its first smart city

            Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

            Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

            Trending Tags

            • Energy
              • All
              • Oil & Gas
              • Power & Electricity
              • Renewable Energy
              NEOM’s green hydrogen project is formally under execution: ACWA Power

              NEOM’s green hydrogen project is formally under execution: ACWA Power

              Ministry of Petroleum announces $9B investment towards oil refining and petrochemical projects

              Ministry of Petroleum announces $9B investment towards oil refining and petrochemical projects

              Oman’s huge renewable hydrogen potential can bring multiple benefits in its journey to net zero emissions

              Oman’s huge renewable hydrogen potential can bring multiple benefits in its journey to net zero emissions

              UN-HABITAT partners with LCEC, expanding efforts to provide responsible renewable energy solutions in Lebanon

              UN-HABITAT partners with LCEC, expanding efforts to provide responsible renewable energy solutions in Lebanon

              Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

              Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

              Total-led consortium to start drilling offshore Lebanon in September

              Total-led consortium to start drilling offshore Lebanon in September

              Trending Tags

              • Hospitality
                Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

                Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

                Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

                Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

                Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

                Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

                Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

                Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

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              IFP Info - News
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              Iranian dotcoms eye foreign investment, new customers after sanctions

              Reuters

              January 20, 2016
              in Finance, IT & Telecom
              0
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              Tehran-based e-commerce firm Takhfifan found it impossible to attract foreign investment when it launched in 2011 but it took only two days for a potential foreign investor to get in touch after sanctions on Iran were lifted.
               
              "When I was launching my company I talked to several foreign investors but none of them was interested in doing any business with Iran," the company's 32-year-old founder, Nazanin Daneshvar, said in a telephone interview.

              "There are now VCs (venture capital firms) that are ready to sign contracts with us."

              Daneshvar declined to name the European company that had expressed interest in her company but said a deal, if it went ahead, would be that firm's first investment in Iran.
               
              The United States, European Union and United Nations on Saturday lifted international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program.

              The move has caused huge excitement in the community of dotcom entrepreneurs who set up online businesses in the Islamic Republic, some of which are growing rapidly, despite international isolation and a slumping economy.
               
              They could now face tougher competition as foreign companies, with deeper pockets and more sophisticated technology, enter Iran's market of almost 80 million people.

              But the Iranian ventures, which are believed to number in the dozens, also see new opportunities: Now that sanctions are no longer stifling the economy, they expect a consumer boom and some hope to obtain foreign partners and funding.
               
              Many say they do not fear foreign competition because they believe foreigners will need local assistance to negotiate obstacles such as Iran's complex bureaucracy, sometimes erratic Internet service and cultural differences.
               
              "Experience shows the international companies that tried to launch their business in Iran without the help of local entrepreneurs failed, or did not achieve what they expected," said Daneshvar.

              Also, some U.S. sanctions on Iran will remain, which could make American tech giants more wary of entering the country, even though the U.S. Treasury has said it will allow foreign subsidiaries of American firms to deal with Iran.
              Daneshvar founded Takhfifan – meaning "discounts" in Farsi — after learning about the model used Groupon, a global e-commerce marketplace that connects millions of subscribers, when she was working in Germany as an information technology manager.

              Her company says it now has over 100 employees, more than 1 million active subscribers and contracts with 10,000 merchants in Tehran.

              START-UPS
              Many of the Iranian dotcoms resemble well-known U.S. tech firms, with adjustments to suit Iran's business conditions. For example, Takhfifan asks corporate clients to offer discounts to customers and charges a commission.
              There is also an Iranian version of online retailer Amazon, named Digikala, and a local incarnation of ride-hailing service Uber, named Snapp.
               
              "Iran's economic recovery could significantly boost our business. More money would only mean more consumers," said Ilia Vakili, 32, Snapp's chief technology officer, a graduate of Tehran's prestigious Shahid Beheshti University who began programming computers as a boy.
               
              "We are interested in meeting potential new partners and/or investors, in the local market or abroad."

              Founded in late 2014, the company says it has nearly 100 staff and tens of thousands of people use its homegrown app.

              Eventually, Snapp may seek to expand internationally, Vakili said, sounding like a Silicon Valley start-up investor as he discussed business metrics, the strength of his pricing algorithm and the need to maintain service quality.
               
              Hamid Mohammadi, 36, who founded Digikala eight years ago, said the end of sanctions could benefit his firm by making it easier for top foreign brands to sell their products in Iran.
               
              "Our main challenge during the sanctions was that the main brands were not directly present in Iran. The imports were taking place through non-transparent channels, and Digikala, as a retailer, couldn't create a successful partnership with international brands," he said.

              Some brands, especially South Korean ones such as Samsung and LG, eventually had success by establishing operations in Iran. "It was much easier to work with them compared to Apple, which despite high demand, could not provide a sustainable supply chain or customer service in Iran," Mohammedi said.
               
              That may now start to change. "I think after the lifting of sanctions the purchasing behavior of the Iranian consumers will be more similar to the international market," he said.
               
              Digikala says it employs 900 people and processes 10,000 orders a day, but that with online shopping still accounting for less than 1 percent of retail sales in Iran, it has plenty of room to grow. Mohammadi said he would welcome investment in his firm by "strategic and credible" firms.
               
              International banks are expected to move into Iran only slowly, partly because of the risk of falling foul of the U.S. sanctions that are still in place. But Mohammadi said that when they did enter, credit-card use could take off, and this would revolutionize online shopping in Iran.
               
              "We see the lifting of sanctions more as an opportunity than as a threat. We are so established in Iran's e-commerce ecosystem that it would be very difficult for international companies to compete with us," he said.
              Reuters
              20 January

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