The GSMA announced three new Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) at this week’s Thrive Asia Pacific virtual event. All three MoUs were signed to support digital transformation in their respective countries in the region.
The first of the MoUs was signed with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporate (MDEC), while the others were signed with Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA). PITA is a non-profit that advocates for the telecommunications interests of several small island nations in the Pacific.
In Malaysia, the GSMA will work with the MDEC to encourage the growth of the digital economy, with initiatives that will seek to raise inclusion, increase investment, and teach digital skills to Malaysian citizens to prepare them to navigate their new environment. The arrangement with PITA will similarly work toward the development of a modern digital society that boosts connectivity for its member states.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan MoU will focus primarily on mobile broadband as part of a broader Digital Pakistan initiative. It will also push policies that support digital transformation, which is in keeping with the GSMA’s belief that governments and businesses need to work together to accelerate 5G development.
“Collaboration between digital industry and policymakers is key to the advancement of digital societies in Asia Pacific,” said GSMA APAC Head Julian Gorman. “Now it’s essential, as Asia Pacific nations build resilient economies for post-pandemic recovery.”
“The GSMA is taking a proactive effort in supporting organisations to ensure they continue on their paths towards digitalisation,” added PITA President George Samisoni.
The announcements come only days after the release of the GSMA’s new Digital Societies report for the Asia Pacific region. That report stressed the importance of a whole-of-government approach that facilitates coordination between the public and the private sector on matters of digital transformation.
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