Smart Axiata released its 2017 sustainability report last week, showcasing four key highlights of the company’s national socio-economic impact.
One of the key highlights of the company’s national socio-economic impact is Planet and Society – initiatives aimed at mitigating environmental impact and its corporate social responsibility contributions to Cambodian society, the report said.
“We recognise that we have an immense responsibility to ensure our business grows together with our local stakeholders and communities."
“We continue to be transparent in disclosing our efforts while managing our long-term impact on the triple bottom line of the economy, environment and society – a testament to our long-term commitment towards sustainability while maintaining high performance,” Smart Axiata CEO Thomas Hundt said.
In 2017 alone, the company contributed $339 million to the economy, which represents a significant 1.5 per cent of the Cambodian GDP. The company also supported 52,554 jobs across its value chain.
The report showed that Smart remitted $76 million in tax,
levies and regulatory frees, whereby its tax payments alone represented three per cent of total national tax income.
Smart is committed to carrying out projects that drive ICT infrastructure and human resource development, and since its inception in 2008, the company has spent over $1.19 billion in capital and operating expenditure to drive the development of the Kingdom’s telecoms and ICT sector.
Beyond Smart’s core business, the company continued its National Champion agenda through various CSR initiatives, notably under its Education new Tech Innovation pillars.
As well as doubling the SmartEdu Scholarship Programme intake, the SmartStart Young Innovator Programme was launched to realise digital business ideas as well as promote technopreneurship among university students.
“Smart has always taken our national responsibilities very seriously. Besides contributing to national development funds and government income, over one per cent of our annual revenue is allocated for CSR programmes that make a significant impact in the communities we operate in,” Hundt said.
