Daraz CEO and Founder visits SL; commits to boost digital economy

Daraz CEO and Founder Bjarke Mikkelsen has reiterated the commitment of e-commerce giant to boost the digital economy in Sri Lanka following a two-day visit to the country last week.

He paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during which matters such as the growth of e-commerce in Sri Lanka, the increasing digital transition of consumers and sellers and Daraz’s commitment to harness the industry’s potential and to support Sri Lanka’s digital economy were discussed.

Coordinating Secretary to the Prime Minister Charith Wijesinghe, Daraz Sri Lanka Managing Director/Country Head Rakhil Fernando, Chief Operating Officer Darshika Attanayake, Head of Public Policy Anishka De Zylva and Head of Administration, Procurement and Government Relations Malith Ranadewa were associated at the discussions.

During the meeting, Mikkelsen extended an invitation to the Government for Alibaba’s New Economy Workshop in China, which targets policymakers and regulators (barring COVID-19 restrictions).

Mikkelsen and the Daraz team also highlighted key initiatives being undertaken by the company to further empower local communities including sellers, women entrepreneurs and online shoppers.

Moreover, in line with the Government’s vision for economic revival, the Daraz team discussed their focus on building an ecosystem that will support job creation in the e-commerce industry, while creating greater accessibility for all Sri Lankans.

“We see a vast untapped e-commerce opportunity in Sri Lanka and Daraz is committed to helping the Government realise the potential of the digital economy. Seller and consumer education, expanding financial inclusion, and activating rural communities will be some of our top focus areas in the coming years. We are delighted to work closely with the Government on these initiatives as e-commerce becomes an increasingly vital industry for the country,” said Mikkelsen.

Daraz Sri Lanka aims to host at least 100,000 active and engaged small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) selling on its platform, which in turn could translate to at least 300,000-400,000 new jobs in Sri Lanka.

Daraz Sri Lanka is a part of South Asia’s premier online shopping marketplace Daraz, which has an active and growing presence in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar. Supported by cutting-edge technology, tailored marketing, and data and service solutions Daraz Sri Lanka hosts a growing base of 2.5 million users, over 125,000 registered sellers and at any given time, over 4.5 million products are being advertised and sold on the platform. 

Daraz’s logistics company, DEX, delivers more than 50,000 packages to consumers every day, and a majority of those 50,000+ packages are sold by local sellers that operate on the platform. Daraz is focused on delivering excellent customer experiences, ease of purchase, comprehensive customer care, and a hassle-free shopping and returns experience. Supported by the strength of the Alibaba Group, Daraz is transforming into the fastest-growing e-commerce platform in the region.