MTN Group today announced a partnership with Rocket Internet, one of the world’s leading internet incubators, to extend online retail and other essential digital services in the Middle East.
The agreement with Rocket Internet follows a similar partnership, concluded earlier this week, between MTN, Rocket Internet and Millicom International Cellular, to develop internet businesses in Africa through Africa Internet Holding (AIH).
MTN and Rocket Internet will create a joint venture to develop internet businesses in the Middle East, with MTN and Rocket as 50% shareholders in Middle East Internet Holding (MEIH).
Rocket Internet already has a presence in several Middle Eastern countries, and has rolled out a series of high-growth online businesses, including Easytaxi, Lamudi, Namshi and Hellofood.
“The agreement with Rocket marks yet another important milestone in our journey of pursuing digital business adjacencies as one of our key strategic priorities, to drive growth and value for our customers,” said Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Group President and CEO.
The partnership brings together Rocket Internet’s expertise in developing successful global internet business models, and MTN’s leadership position and unique knowledge of the local telecom markets.
Commenting on the partnership, co-founder of Rocket Internet, Oliver Samwer said: “I am very confident that the strategic partnership between MTN and Rocket Internet is going to accelerate the online shift in the Middle East. With joint forces, Middle East Internet Holding will develop its already existing ventures even better and will launch new companies even faster and more successfully.”
MTN expects to invest approximately EUR300million over the next two to four years into AIH and MEIH. The investments are subject to regulatory approval, and the two transactions are expected to close during the first and second quarter of 2014 respectively.
“Through MEIH, MTN and Rocket aim to accelerate and further develop the nascent e-commerce market in the Middle East region,” added Dabengwa.
Source – MTN Group Corporate Affairs
