Arabnet Arabnet

Search in MENA, the B2B marketplace that connects regional businesses with international clients, announced that it has entered into a joint venture with Kompass International, the worldwide B2B database. The new partnership was made official at the companies’ first installment of their jointly held networking event, B2B Meeting Events, which took place recently in Dubai.

The new venture is part of Search in MENA’s strategy to establish an integrated B2B ecosystem in the region as it builds an ‘Alibaba for the Middle East’, connecting it with the rest of the world. The partnership will harness Kompass’ extensive ‘glocal’ (global + local) network, with its comprehensive database of over 12 million companies, which spans five continents and 66 countries, and is translated into 26 languages.

In line with the UAE government’s strategy to create a culture of innovation within the emirates, Search in MENA aims to nurture entrepreneurialism and support regional SMEs through the crucial stages of their development. Search in MENA and Kompass International will be continuing the B2B Meeting Events series with regular events in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah, designed to support SMEs to expand their operations and reach more customers.

The launch event was attended by over 100 SME owners, senior staff and Purchasing and Procurement Managers, who were able to network face-to-face with Korean suppliers and manufacturers. Each subsequent event will cover a variety of themes and sectors, offering direct support to traders, distributors, manufacturers, exporters, importers, and business services, and enabling them to make connections, both in the MENA region and further afield. The company will also launch B2B Pavilion, enabling small companies to attend the region’s biggest exhibitions, with more convenience, and at a considerably more economical cost.