Mobilink Bank Signs GSMA Commitment to Address the Mobile Gender Gap
Islamabad, March 02, 2023:
VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), a global digital operator
that provides converged connectivity and online services, today announces that
Mobilink Microfinance Bank Ltd. (MMBL), its banking operation in Pakistan, has
signed up to the GSMA’s Connected Women Commitment Initiative, becoming the
first microfinance bank, globally, to do so.
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The GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative was set up in
2016 to accelerate digital and financial inclusion for women across Africa,
Asia, and Latin America. Since the inception of the Commitment Initiative, over
40 mobile operators have made formal commitments and have collectively reached
over 55 million additional women with mobile internet and mobile money
services.
MMBL will leverage its extensive operations across Pakistan, with
more than 16 million monthly active customers across Pakistan, 100+ branches,
and over 200,000 branchless banking agents, to further the aim of the GSMA’s
Connected Women Commitment Initiative by encouraging the adoption of digital
technology amongst women, to foster their financial inclusion.
It will run various programs to deliver tailored offerings to
increase the percentage of female customers and reach more and more women
across Pakistan with digital financial services. The Bank aims to increase the
proportion of female customer base by 15%, adding 600,000 customers by 2025.
“Female microentrepreneurs are key to Pakistan’s successful future and the GSMA is rightly focusing on them,” states Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group. “The adoption of mobile technology and the use of digital operator services has the power to transform entire sectors of society and bring prosperity to millions. Through its existing strong relationships with women across Pakistan, and its close relationship with Jazz Pakistan- our telco arm, MMBL is perfectly positioned to deliver on the ambitions of the GSMA’s Connected Women Commitment Initiative.”
Also Read: MMBL scores two awards by HR Metrics at GDEIB Awards 2023
MMBL joins several mobile operators from around the world who
have committed to reducing the gender gap in the customer base of their mobile
internet or mobile money services. This commitment also builds on VEON’s strong
track record on diversity in the country; Jazz Pakistan, was recently announced
as the best Gender Inclusive Workplace in the UN Women Asia Pacific WEP Awards
and received seven awards at the Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Benchmark Awards.
“MMBL operates in most of the rural and urban regions across
Pakistan to foster financial inclusivity and bring economic empowerment to
people. Our partnerships extend that mandate to include digital inclusion and
we see connectivity as being on par with access to finance, as a key driver of
economic progress,” explains Sardar Mohammad Abubakr, Chief Operating Officer
of MMBL. "Empowering female customers/entrepreneurs is on top of our
mantra, as including this significantly impactful segment will ensure
sustainable growth for all and we continue to further this ambition of ours
through this commitment with GSMA."