Aramex opens horizons for Hong Kong firms in Mena

Dubai - Hussein Hachem and Benjamin Chau signed an MoU in Dubai for the joint promotion of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's Small Orders online platform in the Mena.

Trade between the UAE and Hong Kong has been growing 18 per cent annually since 2010 and may rise more in the current year, said Benjamin Chau, deputy executive director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

The total UAE and Hong Kong trade was valued at $10 billion in 2015, of which $6 billion worth of merchandise was for exports while $4 billion worth of goods were imported in Hong Kong.

"The UAE economy is growing. One of the most important sectors to fuel trade between the countries is jewellery, pearls, gemstones and telecommunication equipments and systems," said Chau who was in Dubai on Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding, or MoU, with Aramex CEO Hussein Hachem to launch a joint promotion for the hktdc.com Small Orders online platform.

Under this agreement, suppliers on hktdc.com Small Orders will enjoy lower shipping costs when delivering via Aramex's worldwide network. This also presents more competitive offers for buyers from the Mena region seeking to source quality products on hktdc.com Small Orders.

"The partnership will further facilitate small volume online transactions, which are becoming an increasingly prevalent sourcing model, especially for SMEs. With Aramex's specialty in the Mena region, we are opening the door to a market of huge economic potential and trade opportunities for our buyers and suppliers," said Chau.

Hachem said: "China presents one of the greatest business opportunities for us. We believe this agreement will play a major role in boosting Aramex brand awareness in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong markets."

In a survey conducted by the HKTDC in October 2015, more than 80 per cent of buyers commended the business model of sourcing in small quantities.

The online platform features over 9,000 suppliers and more than 100,000 products. The hktdc.com Small Orders is part of the HKTDC's online marketplace (hktdc.com).

sandhya@khaleejtimes.com