The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed to supporting Pakistan’s growth in sectors such as green energy, telecom, and digitization. The announcement came during a meeting between IFC’s Makhtar Diop and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, where discussions focused on economic reforms and private-sector growth.
Oman’s tech startups signed nearly OMR9 million worth of agreements at LEAP 2025, highlighting the country’s growing digital capabilities. The partnerships span agriculture, financial technology, artificial intelligence, and digital advertising. This reflects Oman’s success in attracting international investments and supporting its startups’ expansion into global markets.
ToumAI, an African startup based in Morocco, is revolutionizing AI by focusing on under-resourced African languages. It collaborates with businesses in telecom, banking, and customer service to develop AI-driven voice solutions that understand local dialects and help bridge literacy gaps, driving digital inclusion and customer experience improvements in emerging markets.
Maroc Telecom reported a slight profit decline to $616 million, despite a 1.2% increase in revenue to 36.7 billion dirhams. The growth was driven by its African subsidiaries and investment in broadband. The company plans to continue digital transformation, focusing on AI integration and expanding its international footprint.
Kuwait’s Communications Minister Omar Al-Omar and Qatar’s Minister of Communications Mohammad Al-Mannai met at the AI Action Summit in Paris to discuss strengthening cooperation in AI, digital technology, and communications. They focused on regional digital transformation, innovation, and the role of AI in sustainable development and international collaboration.
The Information and Communication Technology Association of Jordan (Int@j) and the Saudi Digital Economy Centre (DEC) strengthened digital cooperation by signing a memorandum of cooperation at LEAP 2025. The event focused on enhancing partnerships, digital transformation, and investment opportunities between Jordanian and Saudi ICT sectors.
The “Investment, Renewable Energy, and Finance Towards a Sustainable Digital Future” conference in Amman highlighted Jordan-Iraq economic cooperation, focusing on investment, digital transformation, and renewable energy. Key leaders discussed joint initiatives like the Jordan-Iraq electricity interconnection project and Iraq’s 2024-2028 Development Plan for economic growth and sustainable development.
Elon Musk expressed excitement about launching Starlink in Bangladesh following a meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Prof. Muhammad Yunus. The discussions focused on how Starlink could improve connectivity for youth, rural areas, and underserved communities. Musk also accepted an invitation to visit Bangladesh for the potential launch.
Bangladesh leads mobile money adoption in South Asia, with 224.5 million registered users in 2023. Mobile financial services like bKash are driving financial inclusion, facilitating remittances, and offering a range of services. The sector has shown remarkable growth, with mobile money contributing to economic development and financial access for all.
Batelco by Beyon has launched ‘One Plan’ in Bahrain, allowing customers to combine up to five postpaid mobile lines and one fibre Internet line into a single plan with one unified bill. This first-of-its-kind product aims to simplify mobile and home connectivity, providing exceptional value for money.
