Tipu Munshi Offers Full Support for Dev of E-Commerce

In line with the Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi pledged his full support for the development of e-Commerce in Bangladesh, a statement says.

He said this at the launch of a webinar organized by the France-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFB) in collaboration with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) on Post COVID-19: Challenges & Opportunities for Entrepreneurship and Employment in e-Commerce in Bangladesh.

He said the current world e-Commerce volume is $3.5 trillion and is expected to cross $4.5 trillion in 2021 and offers Bangladesh enormous potential for its growth. He said the Government had already formulated the National Digital Commerce Policy and launched its own satellite, Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to accelerate Digital Bangladesh's construction.

CCIFB President Syed Mahmudul Huq stated in his opening remarks that the present COVID-19 crisis has resulted in unprecedented economic disruptions, negative effects on production processes and trade-related activities. This motivated the industry to look for e-commerce solutions and to make greater use of IT and digital techniques to ensure sustainable economic activities, including trade and job creation.

He further claimed that e-commerce in Bangladesh, by strengthening its backward connection with the farming, manufacturing and service industries, offered enormous opportunities in innovation , entrepreneurship and job creation, and could become a key driver of economic growth.

He highlighted the joint efforts of government , the private sector, Bangladesh expatriates with relevant experience and skills and development partners for the purpose and urged the Ministry of Commerce and BIDA to help formulate a national strategy and action plan to address the challenges and leverage the country's e-commerce potential.

Md. Hafizur Rahman, Director General of WTO Cell and Coordinator of the Central Digital Commerce Cell at the Ministry of Commerce made the keynote presentation a webinar and highlighted the needs to address the issues involving development of e-Commerce, both domestic and international. He explained the salient features of relevant national policies including e-Commerce Readiness Assessment and Strategy Formulation, ICT Infrastructure and Services, Trade Logistics and Trade Facilitation, Payment Solution, Legal and Regulatory Framework, e-Commerce Skill Development and Access to Financing. He also discussed preparation of a Complaint Management Mechanism in collaboration with e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh.