The GS1 MEMA (Middle East, Mediterranean and North African region) data pool was certified.

     In a unique arrangement, the MEMA region’s Member Organisations from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) decided to share the benefits of building a regional GS1-certified data pool, leveraging economies of scale to benefit their member communities.

      An agreement was reached with GXS to deploy a regional data pool – GS1 MEMA Data Pool Manager Version 6.0. The primary purpose of this certification is to ensure the continuity of the correct implementation of the GS1 standards, and interoperability with the other 30 certified data pools in the GDSN.

     The MEMA data pool will help ensure that markets in the region are attractive to global retail operators, and that local retailers can quickly implement industry-best practices to remain competitive, more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors and retailers across the Mema Region will be able to synchronise their product data with trading partners anywhere in the world via the GDSN.

     This regional data pool increases national companies’ exposure due to the collaboration with user members from the different countries involved. On a national level, subscribed GDSN members are at a competitive advantage due to their early implementation and participation in the Network. An additional advantage is that this initiative facilitates joint collaboration in inter-regional marketing, training and education in supply chain management best practices.