Ride sharing brand Uber contributed an estimated BDT 45 billion to the Bangladesh economy in 2021, says Uber's 2021 Bangladesh Economic Impact Report.
Researched and compiled by Public First, a UK-based policy research firm, was unveiled on Sunday at an event in the capital.
The Report highlights how Uber has helped transform the on-demand economy for riders, driver partners, and the wider community by generating BDT 45 billion for the Bangladesh economy in 2021.
It deep dives into the factors behind the economic contribution, consumer surplus, how users benefit, and how driver partners gain from flexible work.
Rides on Uber's platform produced BDT 70 billion in consumer surplus in 2021, which is roughly equivalent to 0.25% of the GDP of the country, the report said.
Impact on Riders and Drivers
95% of riders say that comfort is an important reason for choosing to use Uber. It is estimated that Uber saves riders over 17 million hours a year in a year. In fact, as per Bangladeshi riders, ridesharing is the most significant transport innovation they have experienced in the last decade. 73% of driver-partners said they were satisfied with Uber in 2021. It helps them earn an additional BDT 522 million in higher income through Uber or an average of 26% more than their next best alternative source of income or work.
Impact on Communities
96% of female riders say that safety is an important factor in their choice to use Uber, and 72% of female riders agree that it is now easier to get home late at night. 84% of riders without access to a car said the availability of ridesharing services like Uber was important to their choice of not owning a vehicle. In total, the report estimates that 1 in 6 Uber trips connect with public transport.