Industry Ministry will continue supporting SMEs in malls amid online trade boom

TDT | Manama

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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in malls will retain their support, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has assured.

The Ministry works with landlords and investors to steady businesses facing shifting demand and a growing shift towards online trade.

It would also stick with policies and steps aimed at keeping SMEs on their feet, particularly those in shopping centres.

The Ministry is working with other authorities to keep businesses running and to ease the path for traders, entrepreneurs, and shop owners trying to hold their ground.

Approach

Replying to a question from MP Hassan Ibrahim Hassan, the ministry said its approach is shaped by adjustments to rules and regulations to make trading easier.

The goal is to keep businesses ticking over while ensuring they still play their part in keeping the economy moving, all while taking cues from global practices.

As for the number of business licences tied to shopping centres, the ministry said figures shift due to market forces such as supply and demand.

Online sales

Some traders move shop, some rework their business model, and others swap brick-and-mortar trading for online sales.

The ministry also made it clear that shop owners are free to pick where they trade — whether in a shopping centre or somewhere else that suits their business.

Their choice often depends on lease terms and benefits offered by landlords, which vary from site to site depending on rental agreements.