Commerce ministry to seek stakeholders’ opinions

The commerce ministry has decided to send the proposal, made by Alibaba for opening a national pavilion for Bangladesh, to the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and other relevant stakeholders aiming to get their opinions in this regard.

The ministry took the decision on Thursday at a meeting with the country’s digital e-commerce related stakeholders. The meeting was chaired by commerce ministry’s additional secretary (central digital commerce cell) Md Hafizur Rahman and general secretary of e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh Muhammad Abdul Wahed Tomal.

Alibaba, the global e-commerce giant, has earlier shown interest in opening a national pavilion for Bangladesh on the digital platform to help showcase best domestic products to global buyers.

The move is aimed at increasing the trade volume of Bangladesh and scaling up the country’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. It would ramp up Alibaba’s operational capacity in Bangladesh as well.

While talking to The Business Post, Hafizur Rahman said, “We have already discussed the issue regarding the expenditure of public funds with the high officials concerned as the country is eager to accept Alibaba’s offer.”

“It has also been decided that the stakeholders will express their views regarding Alibaba’s proposal,” he continued.

“We have to consider the offer so that our domestic businesses do not get hurt in the near future. Besides, local businesses will benefit from this initiative.”

Alibaba.com approached the Bangladesh embassy in China with the proposal in March last year.