DED and Souq.com sign MoU to strengthen co-operation on consumer rights protection

MOU testimony to commitment of both parties to safeguarding consumer rights in e-commerce

Dubai, UAE, April 5, 2016:  The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai and Souq.com, the Middle East’s largest online retail and marketplace platform, have announced a major strategic initiative strengthen their co-operation on a number of areas with a key focus on consumer protection rights. CCCP and Souq.com have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which aims at jointly developing programmes for the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights and consumer rights. 

The MOU was signed by Mohammad Lootah, CEO, CCCP and Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO and Co-Founder of Souq.com on the 15th of March 2016.The collaboration aims at introducing innovative measures to tackle problems generally faced by online businesses and ensure growing trust in online transactions among e-consumers in the UAE. 

CCCP has long been involved in the management of counterfeit products in the UAE and their influx in the online trade. Actively involved in protecting consumer rights in the Middle East, CCCP has been working closely with Souq.com for many years. CCCP has also been implementing tougher measures against counterfeiting in various sectors and with the new headway, Souq.com and CCCP will ensure that the e-commerce continues to grow and improve transparency. 
 
Mohammad Lootah, CEO, CCCP, said: “In line with the smart governance vision of Dubai, we have expanded our vigil to the e-commerce space to prevent traders from using the online medium to promote counterfeit goods. We are pleased to support Souq.com, the largest e-commerce platform in the Middle East, in this initiative. We are confident that this will enhance consumer trust in the region’s thriving e-commerce sector and drive further growth of the economy.”

Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO & Co-founder of Souq.com commented: “Souq.com’s success as the largest e-commerce platform in the Middle East is attributed to robust customer trust, which is of immense value to our business. Souq.com operates as a marketplace platform for various small to medium sellers who can directly sell products to consumers. Our sellers gain great value, convenience and training being on our platform. 

“This immense opportunity that Souq.com offers to growing entrepreneurs does indeed present challenges to business. Large e-commerce players in the world are also facing the same challenges and being the leader, we are bringing the best practices to address those common issues such as counterfeits, violation of intellectual property rights etc. The sheer volume of e-commerce business requires Souq.com to think of new strategies to safeguard customers’ and brand owners’ interests and exercise stricter control over certain seller engagement. Therefore, co-operation with the CCCP sector of DED is a major strategic step for Souq.com,” said Mouchawar.

“We focus on the value we bring to our consumers and hence take claims against unethical and non-compliant goods very seriously. We are working closely with CCCP to have a strict process in place to identify and report those trying to breach Souq.com service standards and policies, as well as any applicable laws. We encourage anyone with concerns or complaints to notify us immediately by contacting our Customers Services Team by phone, email or web to receive our necessary support and assistance,” Mouchawar concluded.

The areas identified by CCCP and Souq.com in which CCCP will guide Souq.com are sharing of best practices, training to Souq.com employees on identifying, and tracking counterfeit goods on the platform, swift action plans to support Souq.com when sellers on the platform engage in any unfair trade practices, and establishing joint public relations and disaster recovery programmes.