Page 54 - IRANRptSep21

9.1.9 Retail sector news
‘Iranian Amazon’ Digikala says it is Middle East e-commerce champion with five million product varieties
Iran’s clothing sales fall “to almost zero” amid retailers’ virus woes
Iran’s Digikala has laid claim to the title of “prevailing e-commerce business in the Middle East”, with the company—sometimes known as the “Iranian Amazon”—saying it has moved up to offering more than five million product varieties, while boasting more than 150,000 marketplace sellers and 40mn active monthly users.
In an update on business progress, Digikala said: “Founded in 2006 with inadequate funds, Digikala is the largest e-commerce business in Iran as of today as it had a substantial share of the country's e-commerce industry in 2020.
“Despite being known as the leader of online retail in Iran, Digikala has had a constructive impact by contributing far more than just an online store in fortifying the country's business ecosystem within the e-commerce industry.” Outlining Digikala’s ambitions, the update stated: “This corporation aims to become the primary destination for online shopping, not only in Iran but also in the Middle East, by using breakthrough technologies to reach several goals tending to the needs of customers.
“These goals include creating a first-rate shopping experience for customers, presenting a deep assortment and a wide variety of products, offering favorable prices, producing abounding and valuable content, having the quickest delivery time, and completing operations efficiently.”
The head of Iran’s Association of Clothing Manufacturers has said clothing sales in the country have fallen “to almost zero” amid coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, according to ILNA.
Tehan’s Grand Bazaar, stores across Iran and production workshops in the country have since the spring been forced to close for extended periods, decimating the domestic clothing manufacturing and retailing sectors, Abolghasem Agahhossein Shirazi was quoted as saying. Iran’s clothing industry remains traditionally based on in-store shopping unlike in the West where many consumers now prefer to shop online.
"Sales of clothing are down to almost zero compared to last year when the market was booming and Iranian production was stable. Unfortunately the coronavirus outbreak has dealt a fatal blow to clothing manufacturers," Shirazi said.
The latest severe decline of the Iranian rial (IRR) was yet to affect offered prices on clothing as an abundance of items was already sewn before it began, noted Shirazi. However, items produced after the new Persian year commenced on March 20 were seeing 30% to 40% price hikes due to the weaker rial driving up costs on imported raw materials, he added.
“As people are housebound, they have few or no requirements for new clothes and the industry now has a glut of items to move,” Shirazi concluded.
9.1.10 Property & construction sector news
Iranians become top foreign buyers of Turkish homes
Iranians have risen to the top of the chart for foreign citizens buying residential real estate in Turkey, data provided by the Turkish Statistical Office (TUIK, or Turkstat) showed on March 15.
54 IRAN Country Report September 2021 www.intellinews.com