Republic of Korea - IOM Deputy Director General Laura Thompson and Korea Telecom (KT) CEO Chang-gyu Hwang yesterday (8/10) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Through the partnership with IOM, KT plans to launch its first global GiGA Story Project for community development in Bangladesh. The project will help to deliver social services to residents in isolated areas more effectively using KT’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services and networks.

In September, IOM and KT identified potential project areas, developed project ideas and met with Bangladesh government stakeholders during a joint field trip.

“The partnership between IOM and KT comes at an opportune time when migration, human mobility and ICT are taking a prominent position in the political and economic agendas of the international community,” said Ambassador Thompson.

“We believe innovative partnerships like this will help turn these development goals into realities. Migration is making the world smaller and with KT’s technology we can make it even more connected,” she added.

KT, the largest telecommunication service provider in the Republic of Korea, has been leading the country’s Creating Share Value (CSV) sector with an innovative approach to better connect the world with ICT.

“ICT is a powerful driver of improving the quality of life for people including migrants. Through the collaboration with IOM on the GiGA Story Project, we aim to improve living conditions for residents of remote communities, who are often migrants,” said KT CEO Hwang.

For further information, please contact Eunjin Jeong at IOM Seoul, Tel: +82 70 4820 2324, Email: ejeong@iom.int