B2B digital marketplace can help connectivity in Commonwealth

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said that the Business-to-Business (B2B) digital marketplace can facilitate cross-border connectivity among the Commonwealth nations.

In the case of Bangladesh, digitalisation has made a significant contribution to the country’s economy; when it comes to mobile financial service and e-commerce, Bangladesh has made rapid strides, said the minister.

Even during the pandemic, Bangladesh has reported 5.24 percent GDP growth – the highest in Asia, said the minister, while speaking at a discussion on "High-level public-private virtual dialogue on a digital and green business recovery" on Monday night.

Bangladesh government and the Commonwealth jointly organised the virtual event, reads a press release.

During the discussion, the commerce minister also submitted some proposals, such as creating Commonwealth B2B digital marketplace and initiating virtual training and capacity-building programme.

He recommended that the Commonwealth form working groups to address the issues.

Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh state minister for foreign affairs; Graham Stuart, export minister of the United Kingdom; Soraya Hakuziyaremye, minister of trade and industry of the Republic of Rwanda; Dr Jafar Uddin, commerce secretary of Bangladesh, among others, spoke.