Saudi date manufacturers are likely to implement a major Internet sales network for their produce in the near future, according to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat daily.
Local manufacturers believe that an electronic market would be an important means of promoting Saudi dates abroad, as foreign markets have recently become a strategic goal for Saudi date producers.
On July 21, the Saudi Dates Manufacturers Association met with representatives of Microsoft and other technology companies to establish a website for the sale of Saudi dates. The construction of the new site will cost an estimated 700,000 Saudi riyals ($186,000).
The new outlet is expected to ease the anticipated date surplus in the Kingdom, projected at 1.6 to two million tons over the next five years. This surplus is due to a probable increase in local date manufacturing during the same period, whereas Saudi consumption of dates is projected to remain at a steady 400,000 tons annually. ― (MENA Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
