To raise awareness on consumer rights issues and reach, 10,000 micro-merchants and locals from 33 upazilas in 4 districts(Sherpur, Jamalpur, Tangail, Sirajganj) with Digital Financial Service, UNCDF, Dnet, BDMS and FBCCI jointly have piloted a three-year long project, SHIFT- MDDRM. The project is funded by the European Union.
The synergistic effort will focus on increasing growth and the competitiveness of retail micro merchants by improving market information, strengthening business practices, facilitating innovative business models and educating consumers.
Subsequently, SHIFT has initiated the first phase of two days long digital trade fair in different areas of Sherpur and Jamalpur. The first fair was held on May 8 in Sherpur town. The other fairs will continue till May 17 in various upazilas of Jamalpur and Sherpur.
Dr. Mallik Anwar Hossain, the District Commissioner, inaugurated the fair at Sherpur Sadar. Md.Mustafizur Rahman, NDC of Sherpur, closed the fair. Mr. Rahman remarked that Digital Financial Services is making our financial transitions easier, smoother and faster. He was pleased with the participation of many young people and children in the fair.
Along with FMCG products, Digital Financial facilities and mobile-phone services the fairs will facilitate different services especially for the locals and micro-merchants. The fairs will also accommodate film screening, art and cooking competition, local music and stage performances.
The fair at Sherpur generated interest among the mass and micro-merchants. All exhibiting DFS providers managed to register substantial numbers of new users, a substantial portion of them being women. FMCG exhibitors showcased new products to visitors in the fair.
The visitors were also made aware of basic consumer right issues such as checking to see price, date of expiration and so forth on the packages before making any purchase. Several women local entrepreneurs participated by taking stalls in the fair. The two-day long fair had folk performances about messages of DFS and Consumer Rights, which were all well received. The fair had approximately 10,000 visitors over the two days period.
The fair at Sherpur Sadar, followed by fairs across Sherpur and Jamalpur, mark the beginning of a new concept- focusing on raising awareness among consumers about their rights and increasing the use of digital financial services in the remote rural areas.
