Axiata Group Berhad and MPTC delegation meet to discuss the Kingdom’s ICT and digital future
Axiata Group Berhad joint acting Group CEO Dr Hans Wijayasuria and Smart Axiata Chairman Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie paid a courtesy visit on 8th June to His Excellency Chea Vandeth, Minister for the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, to reaffirm Smart Axiata’s ongoing commitment to the telecommunications sector and continued digitization of Cambodia.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Smart Axiata Acting CEO Feiruz Ikhwan, both parties discussed the importance and potential of ICT in accelerating the expansion of Cambodia’s digital economy. The group noted the joint efforts in promoting digital literacy, digital upskilling, and investments into the digital and telecom technologies are significant ways to strengthen the Kingdom’s digital ambitions.
Representatives of Axiata Group Berhad also touched upon how the Group empowers digital inclusion in communities across its footprint of 11 countries in ASEAN and South Asia, in line with its purpose of advancing Asia, while impressing upon the keen desire to leverage its regional presence and engage the Ministry in future engagements intended to exchange ideas and best practices between the two parties. Presently, the regional mobile telecommunications and digital conglomerate serves 163.1 million mobile customers while providing employment opportunities to approximately 700,000 jobs in the region.
In addition, as a key portfolio of Axiata’s regional presence, Smart Axiata’s latest contributions to the Cambodian economy included 416 million USD contribution to the national economy – representing 1.6% of the country’s Gross National Product (GNP), over 100 million USD paid in taxes, and a further 80 million USD spent on infrastructure investment. Taking this opportunity, Smart Axiata and Axiata Group representatives reiterated its commitment to continue creating positive impact in the community through direct investments and social programs.
Smart Axiata allocates more than 1% of its annual revenue for CSR programs in the areas of education, environment, and tech innovation. Through the Capacity Building and R&D Fund, Smart Axiata initiates and collaborates with numerous stakeholders together with the strong support of MPTC and MOEYS, to introduce programs that build resilient digital ecosystems while equipping the next generation of Cambodians with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital economy.
Through the Universal Service Obligation Fund, the company also commits 2% of its mobile service revenue every year to projects that drive the expansion and enhancement of mobile broadband infrastructure and network quality.
Smart Axiata is a proponent of enabling the digital ecosystem and fully supports MPTC’s ambition of Digital Cambodia where Smart actively supports and nurtures Cambodia’s digital start-ups and ‘technopreneurs’ as well as the continued expansion and development of digital leaders who will contribute to elevating Cambodia’s digital growth in the forthcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution era.
The visit ended with Axiata Group and Smart Axiata representatives thanking the Ministry for their continuous support and collaboration over the common purpose of propelling Cambodia’s digital economy forward while eliminating the digital gap and providing stable and continuous connectivity for Cambodians.