Dubai, UAE, 23^rd March 2004

Comtrust is set to take it range of e-business solutions into Syria for the first time through its latest Comtrust Solutions Partner (CSP) programme signing, Syrian web service specialist, Advanced Web Solutions (AWS), part of the Inana Group - The Syrian Business development Group.

Under the agreement Advanced Web Solutions will market and implement Comtrust’s range of eHosting, eSecurity, ePayments, eRetailing and eConsultancy services within Syria and will in turn be able to access Comtrust’s state-of-the-art infrastructure as well as leverage its considerable ‘know-how’ in implementing e-solutions in the Middle East region. “Comtrust’s range of e-solutions has excellent synergy with our own line of services. Our unique market insight coupled with Comtrust’s extensive e-business implementation experience, makes a powerful business proposition to Syria’s emerging e-economy,” said Eng. Sanaa Al Abssi, Executive Manager, Advanced Web Solutions.

Comtrust's General Manager, Ahmed Abdulkarim Julfar, announces the e-business specialist's entry into the Syrian market

“With Syria’s public sector making a concerted effort to develop an e-commerce facility, the entry of private banks into the Syrian market and a growing demand for e-payment solutions amongst the Syrian merchant community, we believe Comtrust’s market offering, in particular its eSecurity, ePayment and eConsultancy services, to strike a chord within Syria,” explained Al Abssi.

Comtrust said apart from AWS’s intimate knowledge of the Syrian market, the company’s specialist services would provide a boon for Comtrust’s CSP programme. Already AWS has established a solid reputation in its home market as a web consultancy, bring to the table a wealth of knowledge in the areas of web design and development, website analysis, database construction and web application development. Commenting on the new partnership, Comtrust’s General Manager, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, said he was extremely excited by the business prospects presented by the Syrian market. “With growing government commitment to utilize IT to underpin economic and social development and surging demand for effective e-solutions within the private sector, particularly from key industry segments such as banking and finance, travel and tourism and telecommunications, the latent potential within Syria is huge.”

He added, “By partnering with an innovative and forward thinking Syrian company such as Advanced Web Solutions, places Comtrust in a prime position to service what will be a burgeoning market in the next few years.” The addition of AWS to the Comtrust Solutions Partners programme takes the number of participating companies up to 17 covering the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan and now Syria.

According to Comtrust, the CSP programme plays an integral role in its regional expansion plans. It has been designed to bring together the region's leading providers of e-business solutions into a collaborative effort to drive regional e-commerce.