Things we take for granted and e-commerce in Bangladesh
In my recent conversation with M.B. Jalal, Executive Director of KR Source Ltd, a small garment supplier from Bangladesh we discussed issues facing suppliers like his company in the current economic conditions (Mr. Jalal has recently joined our community). Answering my questions about the major challenges in his business I was surprised to hear that the main one he is facing is inability to pay or get paid via the internet. Essentially he was saying that there is no e-commerce in Bangladesh. I always knew that in the US we take many things for granted but this was a very bright illustration on this topic. According to Mr. Jalal, this limitation has to do with the current and past government policies in Bangladesh.
Further in my research I found multiple publications on the issue and the discussion going on in Bangladesh for quite some time. This particular one sponsored by the government of Bangladesh as early as in 2001 outlines the benefits and the issues arising from e-commerce. The paper was presented by Catherine L. Mann, Senior Fellow of the Institute for International Economics on the e-commerce workshop and is titled "Global Electronic Commerce: Issues & Policies for developing countries". It emphasizes that "commitment to e-commerce means commitment trade and economic development". Changes in policy are key to enable flourishing economies and this is how the need for these changes is summarized:
• "Policy reform to create an environment of real competition
• Use global technology to leap-frog stages of infrastructure development
• Foreign investment will come, even in small markets, given the right conditions
• New laws must be underpinned by the rule of law."
The paper than goes into specific and concrete steps that need to be followed to enable e-commerce. As Tom Friedman noted in his book "The world is flat" technology plays a key role in taking entire nations out of poverty. Based on my conversation with Mr. Jalal, it was not yet taken to heat in Bangladesh.
So I guess we cannot take everything for granted ...
Comments: 0; Published: November 18, 2009;
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