In a major step to develop programs for the protection of intellectual property and consumer rights in the UAE, Souq.com recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai.
The key focus of the partnership is introducing and implementing innovative and effective measures of tackling the most common problems faced by online businesses. With this agreement, Souq.com, headquartered in Dubai,
aims to protect consumer rights further by implementing tougher measures against counterfeit products in various sectors including electronics, clothing and accessories.
“Being Middle East’s largest online retail and marketplace platform, we understand the various issues which can be of concern to our existing and potential consumer base,” Souq.com CEO and Co-founder Ronaldo Mouchawar told Gulf News Journal. “Keeping that in mind, we have signed this agreement with DED and are working closely with the CCCP sector to develop effective programs.”
As part of this collaboration, the CCCP will be sharing their best practices with Souq.com, training their staff on identifying and monitoring counterfeit goods on the platform. Together, they will implement action plans to ensure that any unfair trade practices by the sellers are handled effectively. Joint public relations and disaster recovery programs are also part of this development strategy.
Mouchawar said that with the continuous growth in the e-commerce industry in the region, it is important to focus on implementing measures to increase consumers’ trust. A strict vigil of the e-commerce space can prevent traders from misusing the online medium to carry out fraudulent transactions and promote counterfeit goods. Working closely with an official authority can help ensure the process is more effective in gaining consumers’ trust.
While the e-commerce industry thrives, it also brings new and concerning issues, such as counterfeiting and violation of intellectual property rights. To counter these threats, Souq.com has been implementing new strategies to safeguard consumers’ and brand owners’ interests. These strategies and exercises ensure stricter control over certain seller engagement.
“Protecting consumers’ rights and ensuring transparency in their online transactions is one of our biggest priorities, which is why this co-operation with DED is of great significance to Souq.com,” Mouchawar said. “Working closely with them allows us to have a strict process in place to identify and report those traders who don’t adhere to Souq.com service standard and policies as well as any applicable laws in the UAE.”
In line with the growing e-commerce industry, Souq.com plans to develop more programs and partnerships to guarantee that all measure are taken to ensure consumer rights protection.
“I would just like to say that this MOU is just a stepping stone to move forward and tackle the existing issues on hand when it comes to e-commerce transactions,” Mouchawar said. “I am confident that this initiative will result beneficially on all levels including online trading and regional economy.”
