SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook-owned Instagram on Tuesday made a move into potentially lucrative e-commerce by adding an option to buy products shown off in posts by selected brands.
A new “checkout” button for instant purchasing launched in a beta version of the app in the US with a limited number of businesses, according to the popular image-centric messaging service.
“We’re introducing Checkout on Instagram,” the Silicon Valley based division of Facebook said in an online post.
“When you find a product you love, you can now buy it without leaving the app.”
Tapping the checkout button will allow shoppers to select options such as size or color and then pay for items without leaving the Instagram app.
Previously, people inspired to buy products featured in Instagram posts had to follow links to outside online shopping sites.
Information entered for an initial purchase will be stored for future use, according to Instagram.
It remained to be seen how people would feel trusting information such as credit card details to a service owned by Facebook, which has been hit with waves of criticism for its handling of personal data.
Brands taking part in the checkout feature included Adidas, Burberry, Dior, H&M, Nike, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, and glasses retailer Warby Parker.
Facebook makes the bulk of its money from digital advertising but has dabbled with e-commerce in the past. It has pitched its Messenger service as a communication platform for shops or brands to connect with customers.
Instagram moves into e-commerce with shopping button
Instagram moves into e-commerce with shopping button
- A new “checkout” button for instant purchasing launched in a beta version of the app in the US with a limited number of businesses
- Facebook makes the bulk of its money from digital advertising but has dabbled with e-commerce in the past
Egypt’s Suez Canal, Namibian Ports Authority sign MoU to propel port development, training
RIYADH: Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority and the Namibian Ports Authority have signed a memorandum of understanding amid efforts to propel cooperation in development and training.
The agreement aims to exchange expertise and enhance bilateral cooperation in several areas, most notably marine construction, the sale and leasing of marine units, and advanced training through the Suez Canal Authority’s academies, according to a statement.
This is supported by figures from the Suez Canal Authority, which reported revenues of $1.97 billion from 5,874 ship transits since early July, representing a 17.5 percent year-on-year increase, chairman Osama Rabie said during a recent meeting with an International Monetary Fund delegation.
It also aligns well with Rabie’s further forecast that the canal’s revenues would improve during the 2026/2027 fiscal year to around $8 billion, rising to approximately $10 billion the following year, according to a statement issued by the authority.
The newly released statement said: “Rabie affirmed the authority’s readiness for fruitful and constructive cooperation with the Namibian Ports Authority, given the expansion of the entity’s international projects and its efforts to open new markets and engage with the African continent.”
“The chairman explained that the Suez Canal Authority’s efforts succeeded in developing and reopening the Libyan port of Sirte after 14 years of closure, marking a successful start to international projects with friendly and sister nations,” it added.
The chairman instructed that all necessary support and procedures be put in place to initiate practical cooperation on multiple projects, highlighting that the authority offers a comprehensive system for maritime and logistics services through its shipyards and subsidiaries.
For her part, Nangula Hamunyela, chairperson of the Namibian Ports Authority, voiced her enthusiasm for collaborating with the Suez Canal Authority on advancing Namibia’s ambitious port development plan, home to the largest ports in West Africa.
She stressed that this partnership highlights the strong relationship between Egypt and Namibia and will help further deepen bilateral ties.
Hamunyela further highlighted that the Suez Canal Authority’s advanced technology and vast expertise across multiple sectors will play a key role in supporting and speeding up development efforts in Namibian ports, reducing dependence on foreign expertise and technology from outside the region.
Egypt’s Suez Canal generated a total of $40 billion between 2019 and 2024 and remains the country’s most important source of foreign currency.
