Celcom Axiata Berhad and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) today inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the collaboration between the telco and the agency in providing a special [email protected] package beginning September.
The parties said that the collaboration is in line with RISDA’s aim to modernise its community which comprise more than a half million smallholders nationwide. Through this MoU, Celcom Axiata will be the affiliate that bridges the digital divide within the community as the telco continues to extend its wide coverage and superior network to smallholders.
At the initial phase, Celcom Axiata will provide [email protected] for registered RISDA members that will enable them to enjoy unlimited calls within Celcom network. Other details on [email protected] will be announced later. The [email protected] distribution is targeted to begin in September 2016.
“The connectivity delivery will be significant for us because of the positive impact we believe it will bring to their lives. We trust that [email protected] will be the gateway to improve the knowledge and information within the RISDA community because of the infinite online opportunities that will be made available to them. This will eventually lead to an upgrade of their lifestyles and improve their economic status within the society. ” said Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad .
“This initiative will focus highly on supporting the Government’s call for the adaptation of digitisation and stepping up towards a diversified and digitalised economy,” Shazalli Ramly concluded, adding that the digital ecosystem created may become a platform for them to venture into e-entrepreneurship as another source of income.
Further to the MoU, plans are underway to develop mobile content and applications dedicated for the RISDA community, as well as the prospect of establishing WiFi hotspots at potential RISDA areas.
Celcom said these are expected to channel the much needed information for the smallholders, such as the current trading prices for rubber and commodities. The development of such will also double up as a communications broadcast channel from the ministry and RISDA.
The Telco is also looking forward for similar collaboration with other agencies governed by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development in the near future.
