UNDP launches online marketplace for COVID-19 affected SMEs

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with assistance from Ekshop of a2i, has launched Anondomela, an online marketplace so that rural and urban small businesses can get an equal opportunity to sell their products digitally during amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides, the marketplace will help to reduce the risk of infection transmission and to help small businesses to minimise the negative impacts of the outbreak, reports BSS citing a press release.

The marketplace was launched through a videoconferece on Tuesday with the participation of Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

The press release said, UNDP has launched launched Anondomela as a free-of-cost alternative marketplace in a bid to ease the sufferings of these entrepreneurs.

It will allow buyers from the comfort of their homes order products directly from the SMEs. Already, 1,045 SMEs have hosted their products on the site which can be accessed at www.anondomela.shop.

The speaker, in her address, the whole world is facing an unprecedented challenge posed by COVID-19.

“The impact of the pandemic on SMEs is very harsh through this period of economic contraction. I thank UNDP for supporting the GoB through this innovative initiative,” she said.

“As part of the stimulus package to revamp the economy, SMEs will get a Tk 200.00 billion stimulus package from the government to stay afloat,” she added.

The speaker hoped that this initiative will continue to grow beyond COVID-19 crisis and help the branding of Bangladesh to the world.

“Our initiative aims to ease the pressure that the COVID-19 crisis has put on these very small and largely informal entrepreneurs, while also when most feel naturally inclined to demonstrate more social solidarity and care during the holy month of Ramadan” said Sudipto Mukerjee, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, while giving the welcome remarks.

Bangladesh has close to seven million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which involve around 25 million people according to government statistics.

The COVID-19 crisis, which has brought the world to a screeching halt in just five months since its first reports, has put most of them at the risk of shutdown.

Mia Seppo, UN Resident Coordinator, said: “Anondomela will give rural and urban small businesses an equal opportunity to sell their products digitally. They will be able to carry out business as usual, and not have to lose out on Eid sales due to problems with the supply chain and transportation issues. This is the ‘new normal’ of work we need to adopt after this pandemic.”

The industry was traditionally propped up on the major sales that occur during festivals like the Pahela Baishakh or the Eid festivals. But the scenario is opposite this year. Due to the pandemic, even the products already at the factories are not reaching customers due to marketplace disruption.

“Normally, by April, we see a start in our festival sales and melas. But with the COVID lockdown, we were hit very hard. We have already invested in making the products, got them ready, but now have no place to sell it,” said Asmaul Husna Munni, owner of Moon’s Creation.