Ekshop, an innovative initiative of Aspire to Innovate (a2i), has won the United Nations International Award ‘SDG Digital Game Changer Award’ in recognition of bridging the gap between villages and cities by bringing e-commerce services to the marginal areas of the country. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) jointly awarded ATUI’s initiative ‘Ekshop’ as the champion in the ‘Game Changer for Prosperity’ category.
The award was presented on Saturday (September 16, 2023) in a lavish ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York. A2i’s Policy Advisor Mr. Anir Chowdhury, a2i’s Head of Commercial Strategy Mr. Rezwanul Haque Jami and a2i’s Program Associate (Outreach and Resource Mobilization) Mr. Md. Shahriar Hasan received this prestigious international award.
The award was presented for the first time by the United Nations in recognition of success in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals through digital platforms. Two United Nations agencies, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), jointly launched the award this year. Ekshop platform was championed in the ‘Game Changer for Prosperity’ category from over 450 digital enterprises from 90 countries across the world. This time, 5 digital initiatives were awarded in these 5 categories of Prosperity, People, Planet, Peace and Pioneer.
Ekshop is a government e-commerce platform with all major e-commerce companies and thousands of small and medium entrepreneurs in the country. By this, the people of the village are able to connect with the digital market very easily with the help of technology. Ekshop has been doing the important work of delivering products to people’s doorsteps. Ekshop is playing a leading role in reducing the digital divide between villages and cities by including rural level trade in e-commerce for the development of the country’s rural economy. This international award will encourage the underdeveloped countries of the world apart from Bangladesh to reduce the digital divide. a2i is always committed to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals through timely digital solutions to build a non-discriminatory digital system.
a2i’s e-commerce platform ‘Ekshop’ started its journey in 2019 with the aim of providing e-commerce services to the marginal areas of the country as well as spreading the products of the marginalized people across the country. At present more than 12 thousand rural artisans are selling products through one shop. Ekshop has already delivered more than 80 lakh products to different parts of the country through cash on delivery. A seller who wants to sell his products can join Ekshop himself. You can also display your products for sale in any e-commerce company associated with Ekshop. This work can be done by the seller himself. Again in this case you can take the help of Union Digital Center entrepreneurs.
Besides, Ekshop has delivery management. This service was launched during the Corona period. Any e-commerce organization or entrepreneur can deliver their products to customers through this service. In addition to various product delivery organizations of the country, postal and telecommunication departments have been added to this platform. Various government entrepreneurial institutions have also been brought under the umbrella of Ekshop.
Initiatives have been taken to reduce digital disparity through replicating Ekshop’s model not only in the country but also in underdeveloped countries. Ekshop’s model is being replicated to reduce the digital divide, particularly in South Sudan, Yemen, Turkey and Somalia. This model has also been launched in a province of the Philippines. The UN is helping to roll out this model outside the country.
