DHAKA: US-based e-commerce giant Amazon expressed interest to collect products from Bangladesh for selling those in the US and Europe markets. The largest e-commerce company seeks policy support from the government of Bangladesh in this regard.

The Amazon delegation sat in a meeting with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division at the ICT Tower of Agargaon in the capital city on Wednesday (July 17).

With State Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak in the chair, Amazon Category Manager Gagan Dwip Sagar, TechRajshahi Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mahfuzur Rahman attended the meeting.

A delegation from Walton, a senior official of the ICT Department and the local organization, was also present in the meeting.

In the meeting, Amazon said that they are planning to collect products from Bangladeshi manufacturers and sell those in the US and Europe markets. For this, they want the government's necessary policy support.

TechRajshahi CEO Mahfuzur Rahman said that Amazon is looking to collect products from Bangladesh to sell in the Europe and US markets. These products will be sold from their global platform. However, foreign buyers face some difficulties to take the products from Bangladesh. We sought policy support from the government to remove those.

As Amazon representative reluctant to talk to media, Mahfuzur Rahman, on behalf of the e-commerce giant, said these complications include customs policy, banking complexity, lack of knowledge and skills of locals about marketplace like Amazon.

After the meeting, Zunaid Ahmed Palak briefed the media. He said Bangladesh now exports about $ 40 billion worth of goods in foreign markets. If the proposal of Amazon has successful, it will be easier to export our products to the world market. Besides, a large online-based market of USA and Europe will be exposed in front of us. If we can join this platform, it can be possible to double our export by 2030. In particular, small products can be exported directly through online platforms.

“We are working to remove the hindrances that exist for shopping from the online marketplace. We also want to increase the export volume by making a policy decision”, he added.

Amazon is not now opening any office in Bangladesh. There is not any discussion about that whether they are willing to do retail business here. Now they are keen to collect the products from here to their warehouse in US and Europe, Palak said, adding “We told them, our government has a liberal policy. Hopefully, if our local small and medium entrepreneurs can deliver goods directly to the Amazon, they will be benefited and the country will be benefited most. We are thinking about formulating a policy about that. We will sit down and talk about it”.

The meeting, to be chaired by Prime Minister's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy, will be discussed the issue on Thursday (July 18).

BDST: 1436 HRS, JULY 17, 2019
RS/SMS

. The largest e-commerce company seeks policy support from the government of Bangladesh in this regard.

The Amazon delegation sat in a meeting with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division at the ICT Tower of Agargaon in the capital city on Wednesday (July 17).

With State Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak in the chair, Amazon Category Manager Gagan Dwip Sagar, TechRajshahi Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mahfuzur Rahman attended the meeting.

A delegation from Walton, a senior official of the ICT Department and the local organization, was also present in the meeting.

In the meeting, Amazon said that they are planning to collect products from Bangladeshi manufacturers and sell those in the US and Europe markets. For this, they want the government's necessary policy support.

TechRajshahi CEO Mahfuzur Rahman said that Amazon is looking to collect products from Bangladesh to sell in the Europe and US markets. These products will be sold from their global platform. However, foreign buyers face some difficulties to take the products from Bangladesh. We sought policy support from the government to remove those.

As Amazon representative reluctant to talk to media, Mahfuzur Rahman, on behalf of the e-commerce giant, said these complications include customs policy, banking complexity, lack of knowledge and skills of locals about marketplace like Amazon.

After the meeting, Zunaid Ahmed Palak briefed the media. He said Bangladesh now exports about $ 40 billion worth of goods in foreign markets. If the proposal of Amazon has successful, it will be easier to export our products to the world market. Besides, a large online-based market of USA and Europe will be exposed in front of us. If we can join this platform, it can be possible to double our export by 2030. In particular, small products can be exported directly through online platforms.

“We are working to remove the hindrances that exist for shopping from the online marketplace. We also want to increase the export volume by making a policy decision”, he added.

Amazon is not now opening any office in Bangladesh. There is not any discussion about that whether they are willing to do retail business here. Now they are keen to collect the products from here to their warehouse in US and Europe, Palak said, adding “We told them, our government has a liberal policy. Hopefully, if our local small and medium entrepreneurs can deliver goods directly to the Amazon, they will be benefited and the country will be benefited most. We are thinking about formulating a policy about that. We will sit down and talk about it”.

The meeting, to be chaired by Prime Minister's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy, will be discussed the issue on Thursday (July 18).

BDST: 1436 HRS, JULY 17, 2019
RS/SMS