Difficulties of e-commerce in Bangladesh: a risk analysis for international trade

Abstract

Eye Mind Valley is an e-commerce site that collaborates with Bangladesh's f-commerce site. F-commerce site is primarily the Facebook business website where people conduct their business, which is the Facebook platform for buying and selling. On one hand, starting and growing a business in Bangladesh is fraught with difficulties where studies provide lists of potential hurdles to e-commerce business development. Similarly, Eye Mind Valley run their businesses in both platforms which becomes difficult to manage when the business like these is facing delay and counting higher costs while complying with customs documentation, at the ports, although the authorities have made significant improvements in recent times. The report “Difficulties of E-commerce in Bangladesh: A risk analysis for international trade” investigates the impact of customs challenges on the objectives of improving revenue collection, facilitating trade, promoting good governance, and enhancing the competitiveness of Bangladeshi businesses. The report employed a mixed-method approach, including a literature review, case studies, and a survey of e-commerce businesses. The findings revealed that challenges in the customs administration significantly impacts revenue collection, impedes trade facilitation and good governance, and poses a considerable risk to the competitiveness of Bangladeshi businesses. Based on the findings and analysis, the report recommends several measures, including risk management systems, modernization of customs procedures, simplification of customs regulations, and greater cooperation between customs authorities and e-commerce businesses.