(Jordan Times) — If you own a small firm and would like to give electronic commerce a try, a new international alliance of chambers of commerce and industry could be your ticket to e-riches.
This is not an advertisement of a computer titan or a new search engine. Rather, it is part of a new project that is attempting to link firms from across the Mediterranean region in a network to promote growth and multilateral cooperation, mainly among small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).
Parties to the agreement on the three-month-old Mediterranean Business Network (MED-BN), a regional economic system, include some of the largest European chambers of commerce, such as those of Milan, Lyon, Barcelona and Athens, which together represent around one million firms.
Thirteen chambers from the region took part in a founding meeting in Milan on April 3. The Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) marked its participation in the network with a letter of confirmation sent to the meeting by messenger.
In terms of the Arab world, chambers of commerce and industry of Palestine, Beirut, Rabat, Tunis, Egypt, Malta, Cyprus, Istanbul and Israel are on board.
The participating chambers agreed to set up a small committee, consisting of the Milan and Barcelona chambers of commerce, entrusted with drawing up a plan of action to make the network a reality.
E-commerce emerged as a top priority in the second meeting of the network, which was held in Milan early this month, where participants agreed to the creation of an e-commerce committee.
By the end of this month, the e-commerce project is expected approval, and the initial activities launched.
According to the committee, this project is necessary in order to “promote the use of information and communication technologies, and increase [participants'] awareness of the opportunities offered by the Internet service and e-commerce.”
With the creation of a virtual campus, the first in a group of proposals falling under the e-commerce project, neither employees nor their seniors will have to head for classrooms. Rather, they will be offered on-line training and consultancy services in a bid to upgrade their business practices.
The distance-learning courses will cover various business skills, including management, planning, negotiating, marketing and customer services, and will be tailored to the needs of each group of trainees.
The project also aims to punch holes in the language barrier by making training materials available in Arabic, English, and French.
A comprehensive guide to the technical, commercial and legal aspects of e-commerce will also be made available through the project.
Moreover, SMEs will be provided with information about commercial activities, finances and a calendar of events such as shows and trade fairs. A list of economic establishments in the area, such as producers, importers and wholesalers, will also be put in the hands of SMEs.
The e-commerce effort will also include a service to help firms find suitable business associates to carry out joint enterprises.
One final aspect of the project is establishing a consultancy service via e-mail, as well as a list of the frequently asked questions — a so-called e-mail hotline.
ACI President Othman Bdeir said the virtual campus project could play a crucial role in introducing Internet technology to the chamber's SMEs, most of which are currently non-users.
“The ACI has over 6,000 firms belonging in the SME category,” Bdeir told the Jordan Times in an interview. “But the majority, especially the small firms, do not have access to the technology.”
He further said that the project would help upgrade the capacities of local firms, “The scheme will help in transferring the technological expertise of the more advanced European chambers to Jordanian and other Mediterranean chambers.”
Khalid Fannei, owner of a small toy-making workshop, said the project might help relieve the marketing woes of his business. “Learning more about the Internet and e-commerce might help my small business find new markets,” said Fannei.
But preparing SMEs to conduct Internet-based commerce is not the end of the story. The organizers say the firms will be provided with a secure environment to assure fraud-free business transactions. This, say the organizers, is where a digital certification service called MedSign fits in.
In contrast with other international agreements where governments are the partners, the chambers of commerce and industry themselves will act as certification authorities.
The organizers compare the certificate to a “digital passport” that will be presented whenever the user's identification is requested.
The certificate will be a guarantee of the authenticity of the user's identity and attributes, and a requirement whenever the user wants to sign an electronic message or encode it to ensure confidentiality.
Under the MedSign project, the chambers will be able to provide all businesses with digital certificates recognized by every country in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
According to a statement by the committee, the MedSign “will contribute to the development of the electronic marketplace in this region... giving businesses confidence in on-line transactions.”
Bdeir hailed the service, saying it would help buyers and sellers carry out business through a protected and safe channel.
Under the system, suppliers will only be charged fees for successful transactions, and then only on a sliding scale, while retaining the freedom to choose any off-line payment system.
The organizers hope the MedSign system will eliminate traditional business barriers, such as geographical obstacles, allowing firms to make deals around-the-clock, and without necessarily having to meet face-to-face.
The organizers are looking to the European Union and the World Bank as potential funders of network activities.
By Rana Awwad
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
