The 3rd “UNCTAD e-Commerce Week 2017” celebration with the theme "Towards Inclusive E-Commerce" started on 24 April 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland with a view to identifying forward-looking insights and concrete actions that can help developing countries take part in and benefit from e-Commerce. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) initiated the event for a broader perspective to bring together countries still grappling with the impact of the digital economy and e-Commerce and the opportunities they present for global growth and inclusive development.
The e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh initiated the process with Ministry of Commerce, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for ensuring participation of a proper Bangladesh Delegation to the Week. A 8-Member delegation comprising representatives from the WTO Cell of Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Information and Communication Department, Bangladesh Post and Telecommunications Department and Special Adviser of e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) Ms. Shomi Kaiser participated in the Event. Ms. Shomi Kaiser solely representing the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB). Ms. Kaiser joins the Session titled Special Session on Assessing e-Trade Readiness of the Least Developed Countries’ being held today on 26 April 2017. As a Panelist Speaker in the Session, she presented a document titled “Report on e-Commerce in Bangladesh” as “Country Paper” prepared on the present context of e-Commerce in Bangladesh by e-CAB.
Mr. Md. Munir Chowhury, Director General, WTO Cell, Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Mohd Khalid Abu Naser, Deputy Secretary, Bangladesh Competition Commission, Mr. Md. Hafizur Rahman, Director, WTO Cell, Ministry of Commerce, Syed Mohammad Kowser Hossain, Private Secretary to Senior Secretary (Deputy Secretary), Mr. Md. Abdul Mannan, Deputy General Manager, Bangladesh Bank, Ms. Shomi Kaiser, Adsier, E-CAB and Mr. Ashish Chakraborty, Chairman, E-payment and Transaction Standing Committee, E-CAB were present at the event.
High-level representatives of the digital economy from governments of different countries, the private sector, international organizations, outstanding business leaders and academia, civil society and youth have participated in the event to discuss and gain better insight on how to ensure that developing countries can further engage in and benefit from e-commerce, and identify concrete actions going forward. The week offers an opportunity to forge relationships, discuss priority areas, exchange successful ideas and define concrete actions towards more inclusive e-commerce and sustainable development. The most highlighted agenda of the Week such as e-Commerce readiness, e-Commerce infrastructure and services, e-Trade facilitation, e-payment solutions, cyber-law frameworks, e-Commerce skills, access to financing of e-Commerce firms and e-Inclusion of vulnerable groups are discussed in depth, along with the need to build small- and medium-sized businesses and local actors' skills.
House: 29 (M-A),Road: 6, Dhanmondi, Dhaka- 1205, Bangladesh
On 25 April, the High-level event “Digital Transformation for All: Empowering Entrepreneurs and Small Business” was the highlight of the week. An interactive dialogue with Ministers and other stakeholders will took place with Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Jack Ma, founder and chairman of Alibaba Group and Special Adviser of UNCTAD for young entrepreneurs and small business, Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of World Trade Organization and Amanda Long, Director-General of Consumers International. This High-level event aims to set the scene for the rest of the week and provide different perspectives on how societies could adapt to the changing economic landscape brought about by the digital revolution.
It is hoped that Bangladesh delegation would learn about trends and best practices & raise visibility for partners' initiatives and resources and gain guidelines and mechanisms regarding e-Commerce relevant information, utility, challenges and remedies, policy support, delivery channeling & infrastructural solutions, international arrangements and many more from the “UNCTAD e-Commerce Week 2017”. These guidelines and mechanisms are believed to be more supportive for the draft National e-Commerce Policy, 2016, jointly prepared by the ICT Division of the government and the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB).