Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized strengthening economic cooperation in sectors like IT, agriculture, and green technology. They discussed deepening bilateral relations, supporting each other on key national issues, and reaffirming their commitment to regional peace, with a target of achieving $5 billion in bilateral trade.
PTA issued 177 telecom licenses in the fiscal year 2023-24, bringing the total number of licenses issued to 2,140. The fully digitized licensing system improves efficiency and accessibility, particularly benefiting remote regions. This advancement aims to foster inclusivity and transparency in the telecom sector, enhancing overall service delivery.
du, the Dubai telecom operator, recorded a 49% increase in 2024 net profit, reaching Dh2.49 billion. The company plans expansion into adjacent sectors like data centers and fintech, while launching new sub-brands. Additionally, du aims to offer sovereign cloud and AI services in the UAE by mid-2025.
Robi Axiata’s new subsidiary, Axentec PLC, has officially started its operations, offering innovative digital solutions and services. Axentec, emerging from Robi’s ICT arm Reddot Digital, is set to provide a wide range of IT solutions, including cloud services, AI, data analytics, cyber security, and IoT, focusing on the corporate and SME sectors. This strategic move positions Axentec as a key player in the digital solutions market, both in Bangladesh and globally.
e& enterprise, the enterprise arm of UAE’s e& group, has acquired Turkey’s GlassHouse Bilgi Sistemleri for $60 million. The acquisition strengthens e&’s service portfolio, particularly in data backup, business continuity, and SAP infrastructure. GlassHouse’s financials will be consolidated into e&’s from September 1, with minimal impact on overall figures.
Lola, a Bahrain-based foodtech startup, raised US$1.3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Vision Ventures and Plus VC. The investment will support Lola’s expansion in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region, enhancing its customizable cake-ordering service and enabling future product category growth in the personalized gifting market.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has finalized the audit process for Teletalk, the state-owned mobile operator, addressing unpaid fees and regulatory compliance. The audit aims to enhance operational transparency. BTRC is also continuing audits on Grameenphone, Robi Axiata, and Banglalink as part of its broader regulatory efforts.
Morocco is set to legalize cryptocurrencies, reversing its 2017 ban, and exploring a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the e-dirham. This move supports financial inclusion and digital transformation, with the goal of enhancing public sector efficiency. The country aligns with global trends in blockchain technology and digital assets.
HSBC has launched Omni Collect, a new e-commerce digital payment platform in the UAE, in partnership with Saudi-based FinTech Geidea. Omni Collect allows HSBC business clients to access card receivables and gain insights into collections data, simplifying payment processes across multiple channels and enhancing business decision-making.
The UAE Space Agency has partnered with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), launching the MBR Explorer spacecraft in 2028. This 13-year mission will study asteroids to deepen our understanding of the solar system and explore potential resource extraction.
