Alibaba is offering manufacturers from Bangladesh the chance to promote their merchandise to overseas buyers via its platform for an annual fee. It is particularly focused on small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), according to a proposal submitted to the Bangladeshi Commerce Ministry in Dhaka and seen by Nikkei Asia. A wave of companies signing up to Alibaba from one of the world's top garment producers would give the website a boost, while offering Bangladesh another channel to generate export earnings as it grapples with dwindling foreign currency reserves and a huge gap in its balance of payments. "Alibaba wants to help promote products of Bangladeshi SMEs and submitted its proposal to us," said Sayed Ali, a deputy secretary at the Commerce Ministry. "We have sent copies of the proposal to [business] chambers and associations seeking their opinions."

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