Leading e-payment services provider OneCard will promote its online payment services in line with the projected growth of internet use in the region, sources said.

Electronic payment service providers estimate that online payment for goods in the Middle East has grown by at least 27 per cent over the past two years, while internet use grew by 1176.8 per cent from 2000-2008. The number of Arab internet users likely to grow up to 25 million in 2009, which is expected to further increase the popularity of e-commerce.

OneCard expects that solid public spending in 2009 will influence retailers to launch more e-commerce initiatives in the region, said a statement.

“The Gulf alone is expected to increase its average GDP by a solid 2.4 per cent in 2009,” said Muhannad Ebwini, general manager of OneCard. “One of the key factors for this growth is strong public spending, which will definitely influence retailers to launch their own e-commerce initiatives. Given that a majority of Arab internet users are youth who are active consumers, e-commerce has the potential to expand exponentially this year.”

A major concern over e-commerce transactions is the growing number of security threats invading the internet. Middle East-based companies report that as much as 90 per cent of their incoming communications are spam, thus making them potential targets of malicious software. OneCard addresses this issue by using the latest network security measures. It currently uses 64-bit one-way and two-way encryption to ensure secure transactions for its customers.

“The Middle East’s internet community is growing at an exponential rate, which unfortunately also means that hackers are eyeing the region more closely. OneCard continues to explore the latest network protection technologies to ensure a reliable, efficient and secure online environment for its customers. We invite our users to avail of our numerous online services and watch out for the promotions we have lined up this year to reward their patronage,” concluded Ebwini.

Launched in Saudi Arabia in 2004, OneCard has emerged as the most comprehensive online payment solution in the Arab region. It continues to provide the Middle East with an excellent platform to acquire online services developed to suite Arab culture and society.

OneCard’s comprehensive service categories include mobile charge cards, website hosting services, stocks and currency, education and books, internet service providers, online games, DSL cards, download sites, and internet phone cards, among others. – TradeArabia News Service