Oman's e-fisheries platform expands into Saudi Arabia

@JmObserver -

Boosted by its success since the launch of its bidding website in 2020, Behar —Oman’s first fisheries e-platform — has signed an agreement with Al Fahda Development and Investment Company in Saudi Arabia to establish a fish trading e-platform connecting fish markets between the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was signed after Mohammed al Huseini, co –founder and innovator of Behar platform, presented the company’s profile and expansion plans during the Gulf Forum for Entrepreneurs held recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed with the aim of opening Saudi Arabia to market Omani fish to enable fish merchants to sell their products at a better value at a higher quality and deliver them in a shorter period of time. Al Huseini said, “Behar is an Omani electronic platform that displays fish sales windows and opens the way for traders, both local and international, to buy fresh and high quality fish.”

The company launched its new portal, Behar Plus in April 2020, which offers an online marketplace for fresh fish merchants and stores to sell their products to individual customers. Buyers can check out what’s on offer in their local fish markets, select the fish and quantities they want online, and request delivery of the purchased items at their doorstep. Behar Plus makes it simple for individuals and families to do all of their shopping for fresh fish online, without having to step out of their homes.

Behar is one of three Omani start-ups selected by Oman Technology Fund (OTF), a specialised government-backed fund that invests in IT and innovative startups, for funding support from an endowment of RO 1 million earmarked for Omani entrepreneurial initiatives. Fishermen and brokers can use this integrated platform to offer their fresh merchandise to leading supermarket chains and other distributors operating across the Sultanate. As a bidding platform, sellers quote a minimum price as the starting bid on their goods and solicit offers from registered wholesale buyers. Offers close within five minutes of the goods being posted on the website with the highest bidder eventually clinching the deal.