70% decrease in phone sales due to ‘virus crisis’: Al-Awadi
‘Consumer choices have changed dramatically’
KUWAIT CITY, April 21: CEO of Future Communications Company Salah AlAwadi says the rate of sale in most of the companies in Kuwait, especially those in the telecommunications and technology sectors that depend on import of goods from various countries of the world particularly China, in particular, has reduced by more than 70 percent, coinciding with a low percentage phone sales during the first quarter of this year, due to the coronavirus crisis that has befallen various countries of the world, reports Al-Anba daily.
In a special press statement, he said, “Even though China has announced its intention to open its factories to resume production and export operations, there are many logistical problems facing the local companies such as shipping operations, booking appointments with the factory, delivery, and closure of most of the sales outlets for these companies and stores. This exposes the companies to greater losses if the period of closure extends.
“Also, consumer choices have changed dramatically in recent times as many of them have turned to purchasing priorities particularly food and sanitary items such as sterilizers, cleaning tools and masks”.
Al-Awadi highlighted that many stores have decided to switch to online sales in the past period and sought to buy and develop their own electronic platforms, which is the most important lesson they learned from this crisis, especially as it has become the only means that has proven its worth and continuity in light of the crisis.
Talking about the most prominent projects undertaken by the company, AlAwadi said, “Employees of Future Company is currently working using remote work feature. It is trying to develop that feature in anticipation of recurring crises in the future. In fact, it is developing its own electronic platform for sale and trying to add many advantages to it to make it more advanced”.
Permits to receive travellers: sources
KUWAIT CITY, April 21: The security sources have announced that in coordination with the Public Authority for Civil Information the Ministry of Interior have issued permit for Kuwaitis who will go to the airport to receive their relatives and family members when they arrive at the Kuwait International Airport as part of the government of Kuwait to bring home the Kuwaitis who are stranded abroad following the cancellation of the commercial flights, reports Al-Anba daily.
The permit will have a phrase added to the permit ‘receiving a traveller’. The receiver shall enter the civil number of the person to be received in order to verify his presence among those registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If more than one person is to be received, it is sufficient to enter the civil ID number of one of the individuals.
The Ministry of Interior stressed on the importance of complying with the Ministry of Health instructions in this regard, such as commitment to wear masks and gloves; passengers made to sit in the back seat of the car; sterilization of the car after reaching the house and preparing all that is needed for home quarantine.