E-commerce grows 300pc in 2020, creates 50,000 jobs

In the last six months of 2020, online transactions of daily commodities in Bangladesh totaled Tk 3,000 crore and more than 160,000 deliveries are made every day. During the period, 50,000 new jobs were created through providing training to 6,000 youths and overall digital transactions during the period totaled Tk 16,000 crore. E-commerce has grown from 25 percent in previous years to 60-70 percent last year, indicating a 300 percent growth in the sector, especially in the commodities and food business. 

These were highlighted at a press conference on Thursday organised by the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-Cab), a platform of e-commerce traders. On the occasion of E-Commerce Day on April 7, the function was organised with the theme "Safe at home, e-commerce is the future" with e-Cab president Shami Kaiser in the chair where she highlighted various aspects of e-commerce business and various steps taken by e-Cab.

E-Cab President Shami Kaiser said Prime Minister has advised people to shop online to prevent corona infection. As we know, during the Corona Emergency last year, the government took a quick decision and directed to keep the daily commodities active through e-commerce in compliance with the health regulations.

Following this, a circular was issued to keep products and services sale online. In the current situation, the deadline for e-commerce delivery has already been extended from 6pm to 12 midnight following a request from e-Cab. 

She further said that this year e-Cab has formulated an action plan focusing on four key issues. Topics include grievance management in rural e-commerce, cross-border e-commerce, social media commerce and e-commerce. Based on this, a policy conference titled "Rural to Global" is being organized on April 11. Policy related programs will be taken up on other issues as well. In addition, e-Cab will take steps to address various issues in the light of the situation, including the implementation of the government's digital commerce policy. 

Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu, Finance Secretary of e-Cab, presented various aspects of e-commerce and e-Cab activities at the press conference conducted by E-Cab Director Asif Ahnaf.  

He added that e-Cab in collaboration with financial institutions deals with members' financial crunch during the Corona period. In this endeavor, e-Cab signed MoUs with Prime Bank and Citibank under which a total of 13 loans were provided to 13 institutions. Applications of 138 more institutions are in process. 

E-Cab Director Asif Ahnaf said that e-Cab is working to finalize the "Digital Commerce Guidelines" of the Ministry of Commerce. If it is final, we hope many problems will be solved. This will enable buyers to be aware and make purchases from the responsible organization. It is possible to reduce the problem to a great extent by making the buyers aware. We also try to resolve the issues that come to e-Cab through discussions with the member organizations. 

Ashish Chakraborty, Director, e-Cab, Joint Secretary, e-Cab, Zia Ashraf, Nasima Akter Nisha and Saeed Rahman, Director and General Manager, e-Cab replied questions from the journalists. General Manager Jahangir Alam Shovon, Deputy Manager Mahmud Ur Rahman and members of various standing committees and news workers were present on the occasion.