Another avenue to shop online

By SATEESH MAHARAJ

WHEN Gunther Richter, managing director of Ultra Consulting Network Ltd, left his German homeland and set up base in Trinidad four years ago, he spied what he considered would be a tremendous untapped opportunity. 

“I had trouble finding goods and services. It was always easier for me to go online and find information there.”

That was the catalyst for TrinidadShopping.com, Richter’s online shopping portal for businesses in Trinidad and the Caribbean which was launched last Thursday at the Hilton Trinidad. Its mission: “To bring the Internet to the business community of Trinidad and Tobago in a most affordable way. To create more viability for Caribbean Businesses on the world wide web. Preparing local businesses for the move into e-commerce. Attracting visitors and investors to the local industry.”

The website is essentially a database of goods and services. Cyber shoppers to the site can do a search for a general product or service which will prompt a list of businesses that offer such the given product/service on the screen display.

The name, location and contact number of the retailer comes up as well. 

Secretary General of CANTO (Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations), Selby Wilson says a recent study had found that many people go online to get information, but most buy in the shop next door. “In other words,” he said “one shops online but buys offline”.

The former finance minister noted a significant “access gap” between developed and developing countries, generally termed the digital divide. 

“The policies for developing the telecommunication sector must be tailored in a holistic manner to a development programme that will help to reduce the digital divide both inside and outside our national borders and extra territorial,” said Wilson.

He warned Caribbean leaders that any failure to narrow the digital divide would aggravate the problem of the economic divide in most economies.

“The economic divide would widen if the region does not keep pace with the technological progress that is redefining the patterns of social interaction and business relations.”

He urged the region to be “responsive to global regulatory trends” particularly with regard to the convergence of services. 

“We must not hinder progress by bureaucratic processes but rather encourage innovation and investment. This is the only way to keep up with the rapid evolution of telecommunication and ICT technologies,” said Wilson.