Latest news with #digitalinclusion


Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Fahmi: Malaysia supports Tokyo Statement 2025 for secure and connected Asia-Pacific at APT-MM summit
TOKYO, May 30 — Malaysia will fully support the aspirations of the 'Tokyo Statement 2025,' which is set to be unveiled at the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Ministers' Meeting (APT-MM 2025), taking place here from May 30 to 31, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He said the statement will prioritise the development of resilient, inclusive and sustainable digital infrastructure to advance a more connected Asia-Pacific region, while leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). 'The focus is not only on infrastructure development, but also on sustainability and our shared goal of ensuring that no community is left behind in the digital age,' he told Bernama today. Fahmi is leading the Malaysian delegation to APT-MM 2025, which aims to strengthen regional cooperation in telecommunications and information technology. The meeting will also mark the adoption of the Tokyo Statement, which outlines six priority areas: digital connectivity; digital innovation and entrepreneurship; trust and security; digital inclusion and capacity building; environmental sustainability; and regional and international cooperation. Fahmi said the Madani government will also share Malaysia's comprehensive and proactive efforts in building a safe and trustworthy digital environment, which includes highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity legislation, nationwide online safety campaigns and regulatory frameworks to ensure accountability among online platform providers. 'This meeting is a vital platform for shaping collective policies and strategies towards an inclusive, sustainable and secure digital future for Asia-Pacific. 'It also provides a multilateral avenue for cooperation in one of the fastest-growing tech regions, in addition to supporting developing countries in technical, capacity-building and ICT regulatory aspects,' he added. Meanwhile, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa led the Malaysian delegation to the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on May 29, which included representatives from the Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The APT is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1979 under the joint initiative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the International Telecommunication Union. Themed Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Sustainable, Inclusive and Equitable Digital Transformation in the Asia-Pacific, this year's meeting is attended by 31 member countries and 19 associate members, comprising government entities, regulators and private sector agencies. — Bernama


CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Singapore ensures digital inclusion as technology advances: IMDA
At the ATXSummit, Infocomm Media Development Authority Chief Executive Lew Chuen Hong speaks with CNA's Sarah Al-Khaldi about Singapore's responsible approach to AI. He underscores the importance of tackling deployment challenges, fostering cross-sector and international collaboration and ensuring digital inclusion remains a priority.


Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
IHS Towers Publishes 2024 Sustainability Report
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2025-- IHS Holding Limited (NYSE: IHS) ('IHS Towers') group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, has today published its 2024 Sustainability Report. The report covers sustainability activities from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 and demonstrates IHS Towers' continued commitment to its stakeholders, including, but not limited to, its employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, regulators, governments and shareholders. IHS Towers' vision is to help create a connected world, where mobile connectivity promotes continued economic growth and social development. The communications infrastructure it provides is vital to enabling that connectivity. In 2024, IHS Towers continued to make progress in executing its four-pillar sustainability strategy – focusing on ethics and governance, environment and climate change, education and economic growth, our people and communities – which is detailed in this report. Sam Darwish, Chairman & CEO, IHS Towers, commented, 'In an increasingly connected world, our solutions help facilitate digital inclusion. As detailed in our 2024 Sustainability Report, we seek to further broaden access to the socioeconomic opportunities this presents through our community focused initiatives. In 2024, 55% of our sustainability spend focused on initiatives relating to our education and economic growth pillar. Through the development of ICT centers and digital kiosks, the delivery of STEM training programs, and the facilitation of school internet connectivity, we are helping connect the next generation to critical education resources. 2024 also marked the completion of our three-year partnership with Giga, a joint UNICEF and ITU initiative, and I am proud of the contribution IHS Towers has made to Giga's objective of connecting all schools in the world to the internet, and all children to information, opportunity and choice.' 2024 Sustainability Report Highlights As of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, we reported the following environmental, social and governance ('ESG') related progress: Environment Social Governance For more information, please visit About IHS Towers: IHS Towers is one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count and is solely focused on the emerging markets. The Company has over 39,000 towers across its eight markets, including Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia. For more information, please email: [email protected] or visit: Cautionary statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by relevant safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements (or their equivalent) of any applicable jurisdiction, including those contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act'), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'could,' 'intends,' 'targets,' 'commits,' 'projects,' 'contemplates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'forecast,' 'predicts,' 'potential' or 'continue' or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to statements regarding our business strategy, plans, market growth and our objectives our sustainability program and Carbon Reduction Roadmap. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to general macroeconomic conditions in the countries in which we operate; our inability to successfully execute our business strategy and operating plans, or deliver on our sustainability or environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and initiatives under anticipated costs, timelines, and complexity, such as our Carbon Reduction Roadmap (Project Green); environmental liability; and the important factors discussed in the section titled 'Risk Factors' in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. You should read this press release and the documents that we reference in this press release with the understanding that our actual future results, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Additionally, we may provide information herein that is not necessarily 'material' under the federal securities laws for SEC reporting purposes, but that is informed by various ESG standards and frameworks (including standards for the measurement of underlying data), and the interests of various stakeholders. Much of this information is subject to assumptions, estimates or third-party information that is still evolving and subject to change. For example, our disclosures based on any standards may change due to revisions in framework requirements, availability of information, changes in our business or applicable government policies, or other factors, some of which may be beyond our control. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, we do not assume, and expressly disclaim, any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the information included in our 2024 Sustainability Report, including highlights provided in this press release, are subject to certain important disclaimers that should be read and considered in concert with such information. 1 ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System certification has been achieved in the UAE, UK and operating companies. 2 Copyright © 2025 Morningstar Sustainalytics. All rights reserved. This report contains information developed by Sustainalytics ( ). Such information and data are proprietary of Sustainalytics and/or its third party suppliers (Third Party Data) and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement of any product or project, nor an investment advice and are not warranted to be complete, timely, accurate or suitable for a particular purpose. Their use is subject to conditions available at View source version on For more information, please email:[email protected] visit: KEYWORD: RWANDA NORTH AMERICA EUROPE ZAMBIA UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM AFRICA NIGERIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MOBILE/WIRELESS NETWORKS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INTERNET HARDWARE SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY ENVIRONMENT URBAN PLANNING FINANCE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOURCE: IHS Holding Limited Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/27/2025 09:30 AM/DISC: 05/27/2025 09:31 AM


Tahawul Tech
5 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Blockchain for Good: ADI Foundation powers a trusted, tokenised future
Guillaume de La Tour, CEO of ADI Foundation, shares how the Abu Dhabi-based non-profit is redefining global financial inclusion and digital trust with a Dirham-backed stablecoin and blockchain-powered solutions for governments and enterprises. The ADI Foundation is driving a new era of global finance by aligning advanced blockchain technologies with real-world impact. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and backed by a $120 million fund, the Foundation champions digital transformation across critical sectors—finance, sustainability, healthcare, and governance. Its flagship initiative, the AEDC stablecoin, is anchored to the UAE Dirham and designed with regulatory compliance at its core, creating a bridge between traditional banking and Web3 innovation. Guillaume de La Tour, CEO of ADI Foundation, explains how their mission is shaping inclusive digital economies, building cross-border trust, and positioning the UAE at the forefront of the global fintech revolution. Interview Excerpts: What specific role does ADI Foundation's stablecoin project play in the digital economy of the UAE, and how does it align with the country's broader blockchain and fintech strategy? ADI Foundation's AEDC stablecoin, backed by the UAE Dirham and built on a modular EVM blockchain, aims to revolutionise the UAE's digital economy with fast, inclusive, and compliant financial services. It incorporates KYC/AML and FATF compliance for privacy and regulatory adherence, fostering DeFi innovation within traditional finance to drive community solutions and establish the UAE as a leading fintech hub. Aligning with Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030 and ADGM's regulations, AEDC digitises the Dirham for global interoperability with major currencies, preparing the UAE for a tokenised future. With partnerships across 20+ countries reaching nearly 500 million people, ADI Foundation bridges Web2 and Web3 to create a compliant, inclusive ecosystem supporting economic diversification. As tokenisation of all assets becomes prevalent in ten years, including national currencies for sovereignty and interoperability, AEDC positions the UAE at the forefront of this shift due to its blockchain's compliance and scalability, solidifying the UAE as a hub for instantaneous, inclusive, and interconnected global finance. 'The UAE continues to emerge as the ideal hub for a future where finance is instantaneous, inclusive, and interconnected, redefining global financial systems.' Given the UAE's focus on becoming a global fintech hub, how does the ADI Foundation plan to position itself as a leader in blockchain and digital currencies in the region? The ADI Foundation is driving global financial inclusion by deploying a blockchain with locally validated compliance at Layer 3, tailored to each region's regulations. Partnering with cutting-edge providers, we ensure localised infrastructure and AI integration on the blockchain, empowering communities with secure, scalable solutions. ADI Foundation is a transformative force, merging blockchain innovation with a mission for global financial inclusion and strategic alignment with the UAE's goal to lead fintech. By delivering regulated, accessible digital finance, ADI Foundation positions the UAE as a cornerstone of the global digital economy, fostering a future where opportunity knows no borders. What measures are being taken by ADI Foundation to build trust among institutional investors and government bodies in adopting a blockchain-based stablecoin for both cross-border payments and domestic transactions? ADI Foundation builds trust by embedding compliance and security into its EVM-based stablecoin platform with a dedicated Layer 3 for regulations like KYC/AML and FATF. Real-time monitoring and decentralized identity enhance security for cross-border and domestic transactions. Partnerships across 20 countries, impacting nearly 500 million people, demonstrate tangible results, such as enabling 70 million M-PESA users to convert mobile money to stablecoin and revolutionizing carbon credit trading with Esyasoft. ADI Foundation extends its impact to healthcare with partnerships like Apeiro, serving 55 million people with secure health information systems. Located in the UAE, ADI Foundation delivers versatile, compliant blockchain solutions across sectors, establishing itself as a trusted leader. What are some of the anticipated challenges in implementing a blockchain-based stablecoin especially when it comes to regulatory policies? I see three main challenges: Challenge #1: Navigating complex regulatory landscapes Implementing a blockchain-based stablecoin like ADI Foundation's stablecoin faces significant challenges, due to the diverse and evolving regulatory policies across jurisdictions. Governments often grapple with balancing innovation against risks, like money laundering, tax evasion, and financial instability, leading to fragmented or restrictive regulations. For instance, ensuring compliance with varying KYC/AML requirements globally, while maintaining blockchain's decentralised ethos, is a technical and diplomatic hurdle. ADI Foundation addresses this by integrating a Layer 3 compliance sublayer into its modular EVM blockchain, enabling localised regulatory alignment without compromising scalability or security. By proactively engaging with regulators in more than 20 countries, ADI Foundation builds trust and ensures stablecoin adapts to regional frameworks, mitigating the risk of regulatory pushback. Challenge #2: Ensuring interoperability amid technological disparities Another challenge is achieving interoperability between stablecoin and existing financial systems, particularly in regions with underdeveloped technological infrastructure. Legacy banking systems and disparate blockchain protocols can hinder seamless cross-border payments and domestic transactions, especially in areas with limited digital connectivity. These risks excluding the 52% of MENA's unbanked population from the digital economy. ADI Foundation tackles this challenge by designing a stablecoin with native support for cross-chain compatibility and partnering with local infrastructure providers to deploy tailored solutions. For example, our collaboration with regional tech firms ensures blockchain nodes and AI-driven services operate efficiently even in low-resource environments, fostering inclusivity and operational reliability. Challenge #3: Building public and institutional confidence Gaining trust from institutions and the public for a blockchain-based stablecoin is challenging due to past crypto volatility and skepticism about digital currencies' stability. Governments and investors may hesitate to adopt stablecoins, fearing economic disruptions or technical vulnerabilities. ADI Foundation counters this by anchoring the Dirham-backed stablecoin to the stable UAE Dirham and implementing robust cybersecurity measures, such as real-time transaction monitoring and W3C-compliant decentralised identity. By showcasing successful pilots—like enabling secure healthcare data systems for 55 million people—ADI Foundation demonstrates reliability. Our transparent, community-driven approach, inviting regulators and developers to co-build ecosystems, further bridges the trust gap, positioning the ADI Foundation stablecoin as a dependable tool for global finance. The potential to change the world is tremendous, and we're just getting started.


Washington Post
6 days ago
- Washington Post
The Digital Equity Act tried to close the digital divide. Trump calls it racist and acts to end it
PORTLAND, Ore. — One program distributes laptops in rural Iowa. Another helped people get back online after Hurricane Helene washed away computers and phones in western North Carolina. Programs in Oregon and rural Alabama teach older people, including some who have never touched a computer, how to navigate in an increasingly digital world.