Business leaders attended a workshop on Tuesday stressed the need for introducing a business-friendly policy for the burgeoning e-Commerce to tap the huge business opportunities.

The e-Commerce is growing at fast pace in the country in recent days with setting up of a large number of e-commerce and online shopping companies in Bangladesh.

They made the observation at a Workshop titled ‘E-Commerce Opportunities and Challenges’ at the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers and Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) conference center in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and FBCCI jointly organized the Institutional Workshop. Nuhin Khan, Project Director of the Economics Research Platform of North South University presented the research study on ‘E-Commerce in Bangladesh: A Story of Adoption and Success’. 

Shomi Kaiser, Director of FBCCI and Advisor of the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-Cab) moderated the workshop.

It may be mentioned that, the draft e-Commerce policy is now under a scrutiny and will be finalized as an act by the parliament after a full-fledged discussion by the parliamentarians. FBCCI requested the authorities concerned to discuss the issue with the apex trade body and the relevant stakeholders before finalizing the policy.

Hussain Jamil, Secretary General (In-Charge) of FBCCI and Dr. Najmul Hossain, Country Director of FNF also spoke on the occasion. Nuhin Khan, in his study mentioned the opportunities as well as challenges of E-Commerce in the country.  He emphasized on ‘supportive policy’, hi-speed internet, E-Commerce transaction and the security issues.

 “If we can have a concrete policy and necessary logistic supports, E-Commerce sector can contribute hugely like RMG to the country’s economy, said Shomi Kaiser.

She also emphasized on easy access to finance and called for identifying the potential areas of e-commerce. The FBCCI, she said, will initiate e-Commerce training for all concerned in phases.