New owners of Zain to pump $200 million into operations

Accra, July 4, GNA - Bharti Airtel, the new company that has acquired the African operations of Zain, is pumping $200 million dollars to expand its operations in Ghana.

Mr Manoj Kohli, Chief Executive Officer (International) of Bharti Airtel Africa, told journalists in Accra that the company had arrived in Ghana for the long run and wanted to be a partner in the growth story of the country.

The company, which only recently paid 10.7 billion dollars for Zain's African operations, reiterated its long-term commitment to Ghana and contribute to the growth of the telecommunications sector by providing "affordable services that touch the common man". Kohli said the company would continue to work with the government by providing Foreign Direct Investment with a multiplier effect that would result in raising the standard and quality of living of the citizenry across every nook and cranny of the country.

"We are committed to offering affordable services, deep network coverage and distribution backed by a superior brand experience to customers," Mr Kohli said.

He noted that telecommunication services are expensive in Ghana and said the new company is of the firm belief that citizens deserve more affordability.

"There is tremendous opportunity in Ghana. I believe that our unique business model will allow us to unlock the true potential of Ghana." Mr Kohli spoke about sharing costs with other telecommunication companies, in terms of some facilities, to cut down cost saying they would bring their experience in India where costs have been brought very low to make the rural people benefit and use telecommunication gadgets to their advantage.

"The customers need choice," he said, and threw his weight behind the move to implement mobile number portability.

"We believe we have inherited very well run operations in Ghana and look forward to working with our team of highly talented professionals and take these operations from strength to strength.

Bharti Airtel has planned to bring its ecosystem of global partners to Ghana and this would result in additional employment opportunities. "The company also plans to introduce its Corporate Social Responsibility programme in Ghana under which it will set up schools that offer free quality education to underprivileged children in rural areas," Kohli said.

Bharti Airtel is now in Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, DR Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

With the successful completion of Zain's acquisition, Bharti Airtel is now the fifth largest mobile company in the world with 180 million customers.

Mr Philip Sowah, Chief Executive Officer of Zain Ghana expressed gladness that Bharti Airtel had landed in Ghana with its vast technological know-how and corporate social responsibility initiatives that promise to add value to millions of people. Ghana National Petroleum Corporation has 25 per cent shares in the company. 4 July 10