Foodpanda wins Digital Bangladesh Award

Foodpanda Bangladesh has received the prestigious national ‘Digital Bangladesh Award 2022’ in the institutional category for its contribution in facilitating the digital transformation of the country and enabling income opportunities for thousands of youths.

Foodpanda is the first e-commerce company to win this national award from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said a press release.

The award was handed over to foodpanda Bangladesh co-founder and MD Syeda Ambareen Reza, and co-founder and CEO Zubair BA Siddiky by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at an event in Dhaka.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak chaired the event which was well attended by ministers, parliament members, senior secretaries and industry leaders.

Foodpanda started its journey in Bangladesh in 2013 and has been successful in creating a strong digital ecosystem with many stakeholders. Foodpanda is the leading marketplace that connects restaurants and shops with customers and delivery partners. It enables SME and large restaurant partners, shops and home chefs to have a digital footprint without the risks of high investments, said the release.

The restaurant industry has flourished in the last seven years, bolstered by the marketplace that the platform has cultivated. Customers are benefited by having food, groceries, medicine and more delivered right to their doorsteps within 30 minutes.

Freelance rider partners are presented with an opportunity to earn a livelihood in a flexible way along with access to key benefits such as insurance, training, loan and online education.

With a presence in 64 districts across the country, Foodpanda has expanded business units and created over one million direct and indirect earning opportunities in the tech-based delivery ecosystem, added the release.

Alongside, Foodpanda, over the years, has also taken numerous initiatives to foster the growth of women entrepreneurs. The Homechef programme has more than 3,000 home chefs currently active on the platform, of which 70 per cent are women.

Besides working on seven SDG goals, the platform has taken many initiatives to minimise food wastage in partnership with several NGOs including Bidyanondo Foundation.

Ambareen Reza and Zubair BA Siddiky thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and the organisers for recognising the company’s efforts to facilitate digital inclusion and empowering the youth and SMEs.

Upon winning the award, Zubair BA Siddiky said, “Foodpanda is at the forefront of building a digital ecosystem. We are committed to continue our contributions in building a digitally inclusive Bangladesh while empowering the youth with income opportunities and supporting the digitisation of restaurants, shops, SMEs and home chefs with a marketplace to access millions of customers.”

“I believe this industry holds immense possibility to become a significant part of the country’s continuous economic growth and build a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041” he added.