February 16, 2005

Global B2B eMarketplace Quadrem just launched operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in response to increased demand in the Middle East for its electronic sourcing and procurement solutions.

The new regional offices will serve oil and gas customers as well as Global 1000 customers from other industries such as mining and consumer packaged goods.

'Quadrem continues to exhibit double-digit growth in revenues, throughput and global community membership,' said Quadrem CEO Mike Efting.

'This expansion in the Middle East is inline with our global vision. It allows us to capitalize on our reputation and track record as a strong, reliable and savvy partner for global enterprises needing to conduct business efficiently across multiple cultures and continents.'

'In 2005, we will focus on connecting our global buyers and suppliers to their trading partners in the Middle East, as well as expanding our customer base in the region,' said Leo van Rensburg, General Manager for Quadrem Middle East.

'We are involved in several initiatives with the region's leading natural resource companies and utilities.

Additionally, we are enabling members of Quadrem's global customer base to extend their enterprise supply chain initiatives to their operations in the Middle East.'

With a track record of deploying enterprise e-business initiatives for the largest mining companies in the world, Quadrem specializes in solving the challenges of implementing global supply chain strategies, even in remote and developing world environments.

Quadrem helps customers successfully address the complex issues of multiple languages, multiple currencies, regulatory and tax structures, change management, standards, restricted technology access and low Internet bandwidth.

Quadrem's supplier community more than tripled in 2004 and currently numbers more than 13,000 companies transacting with 300 buyer locations in six different languages.

Additionally, the company's hosted catalogues include more than 2 million standards-based SKUs in multiple languages.

Source: Line 56