MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter to speak on investing in digital for inclusive growth in the 4th Industrial Revolution at WEF, Davos 2019

Johannesburg – MTN is participating in the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meetings taking place from 22—25 January 2019 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. This highly anticipated yearly gathering of the world’s top leaders from politics, business, civil society and academia, typically recaps major developments on the global landscape and sets the agenda for impactful conversations in all sectors. The WEF Davos 2019 theme is Globalisation 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Rob Shuter, MTN Group CEO, will contribute to a series of high-level panel topics, including the establishment of a single African market under the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) agreement and accelerating investment to support universal access to broadband. In addition, MTN will elaborate on thoughts about how the company is working towards reducing the digital divide and increasing financial inclusion.

With 220 million customers across 21 countries, MTN is one of the largest emerging market telecommunications groups in the world. MTN is widely recognised as a private sector thought leader on how the private sector can provide winnable solutions that will promote low-cost digital services for all and incentivise investment to achieve inclusive growth by exploring alternative business models. A top priority for the company is to provide mobile financial services to 60 million MTN customers by 2020, with a strategic goal of doubling broadband connectivity by 2021, and universal service by 2030.

Mr. Shuter said: “With the youthful population in Africa being born digital, and mobile devices and networks being at the heart of the digital revolution on our continent, the 4th Industrial Revolution gives the continent an opportunity to leverage our assets to leapfrog development and economic growth. We must invest in the future and be prepared. MTN understands that investing in digital does not only make financial sense, it will be the life blood that sustains us all as we move towards the 4th Industrial Revolution.”

WEF Davos 2019 is premised on the need to address global uncertainty, international economic and political tensions. The agenda will cover several topical areas, including economic policies, human capital, industry systems, cybersecurity and institutional reform. South Africa will be represented by a sizeable delegation which will make the strong case for investing in the country as one of the world’s “Hot Emerging Market Economies” by mobilising public-private collaboration for inclusive growth and development.

– Issued by MTN Group Regulatory and Corporate Affairs