DHAKA, Sept 10, 2020 (BSS) – The a2i Programme got the World Summit
on Information Society (WSIS) awards for the 7th consecutive time as
two of its projects were declared champions in two different
categories.
E-Commerce initiative ‘EkShop’ (ekshop.gov.bd) claimed the champion
prize at the ‘e-Business’ category and ‘Collective Intelligence
Platform for Skills, Employment and Entrepreneurship’ (skills.gov.bd)
was declared champion in the ‘e-Employment’ category, said a press
release here today.
The names of the final winners are announced at the end of the
selection process and online voting process after receiving
applications from hundreds of countries around the world.
Applications were accepted in 18 categories while 354 out of 762
applications were nominated. Of the nominated projects, 18 were
declared as winners and 72 as champions.
Two projects from Bangladesh have become Champions while one earned
the winner prize.
This year, the prize distribution and closing ceremony could not be
hosted physically due to the COVID-19 pandemic while the names of
winning projects were announced virtually and representatives of the
winning projects attended the virtual function today.
The WSIS Prizes, given by the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU), recognize individuals, governments, civil society, local,
regional and international agencies, research institutions and
private-sector companies for leveraging the power of technology that
promote basic and human welfare.
Dr Abdul Mannan, Project Director (Additional Secretary) of a2i, and
Rezwanul Haque Jami, Team Lead – Rural e-Commerce of a2i represented
a2i, joined the event.
Dr Abdul Mannan said, “It’s an honor for us to win the WSIS award
for 7th consecutive years. During this pandemic, the a2i Programme of
the government of Bangladesh has introduced virtual classes on
technical and vocational subjects for youth to obtain skills and to
fulfill our Honorable Prime Minister’s dream of Digital Bangladesh”.
Rezwanul Haque Jami expressed his delight at EkShop becoming a
champion and described how it transformed the lives of rural
entrepreneurs.
“EkShop is the sole distributor of essential items to the remote
rural areas of Bangladesh. The rural population seldom gets access to
digital markets. EkShop has ensured such items reach their doorstep,”
he said.
An initiative of the Aspire to Innovate (a2i) Programme of the ICT
Division and Cabinet Division, supported by UNDP, ‘EkShop’, the first
assisted rural e-Commerce platform of Bangladesh, brings daily
necessities to the doorsteps of citizens easily within a quickest
possible time.
So far, more than 5 lakh people availed e-Commerce services through
the EkShop. EkShop has integrated more than 10 lakh items to its
platform with the purpose of distributing products of local
entrepreneurs throughout the country.
At present, 1,531 rural sellers are selling products through EkShop
and more than 6.5 lakh items have been delivered through EkShop across
the country on Cash-On-Delivery method.
Besides, the ‘Collective Intelligence Platform for Skills,
Employment and Entrepreneurship’ is a one-stop collaboration hub for
industries, skills providers, and unemployed youth.
The platform encompasses a number of features that reduce the
difficulties of jobs and skills seekers to find all the opportunities
in one single platform, for industries to reach out to more people
from youth database, and for training service providers to provide
market demand-driven skills training.