On the afternoon of October 8, on the occasion of attending the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related Summits in Vientiane (Laos), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Star Telecom Company (Unitel brand, parent company is Viettel Group). Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; General Chansamone Chanyalath, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Laos.
After 15 years of operation, Unitel has become the largest telecommunications network, one of the companies that contributes the most to the budget, creating great prestige with the Government and people of Laos. Although Laos is a country with a small population (only about 7.5 million people), low population density (only 26 people/ km2 ), telecommunications consumption is also among the lowest in the world . But because of its responsibility to society, because of the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos. Unitel has made Laos one of the countries with the best telecommunications infrastructure in Southeast Asia, thereby receiving the trust and support of the Government and people of Laos. Some of the outstanding results that Unitel has achieved include: a market share of up to 57% while the market has 5 fiercely competing networks. The networks are joint ventures of Laos with businesses.
In 2023, Unitel not only continued to maintain its growth momentum but also made breakthroughs: revenue grew by 17.6%, the highest in the past 8 years. In the first 9 months of 2024, it continued to grow at 24.6%; cumulative revenue by the end of September 2024 exceeded 2.3 billion USD; pre-tax profit in 2023 grew strongly, approximately 65.4%; in the first 9 months of 2024, it continued to grow by 28.4%; cumulative profit by the end of September 2024 reached more than 876 million USD; cumulative dividends distributed to 2 shareholders reached nearly 521 million USD, of which: cumulative dividends transferred to Vietnam reached more than 255 million USD, 8.7 times higher than the initial investment capital (~ 29.14 million USD).
Every year, Unitel contributes more than 40 million USD to the state budget, accumulated to the end of September 2024 is 613 million USD, ranking second in Laos and first in the telecommunications sector. Creating jobs for more than 27,000 workers. Average income in the first 9 months of 2024 increased by about 27% compared to the same period in 2023, thereby contributing to increasing income and ensuring the lives of officers and employees in the context of high inflation in Laos. Doing business associated with social responsibility, Unitel has actively supported the Lao Government in digital transformation and building e-Government; implementing many meaningful social programs with a total sponsorship value of over 41 million USD...
Express your opinion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended the impressive achievements that Unitel has achieved, demonstrating the true nature of the heroic Vietnam People's Army, "born from the people, fighting for the people"; expressed gratitude to the Party, State and people of Laos in general, the Lao Ministry of National Defense in particular; thanked the General, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense for showing affection for Vietnam in general, the Vietnam People's Army in particular, supporting Unitel's development.
The Prime Minister suggested that Unitel’s operations in Laos are not simply business but an important political task that contributes to consolidating and strengthening the special Vietnam-Laos relationship; contributing to strengthening the close relationship between the two countries’ Defense Ministries, sharing joy, happiness, and honor; and that business must strive to be profitable and comply with the law.
Emphasizing that this is the era of digital transformation, the Prime Minister hopes that Unitel will be a pioneer in new growth drivers such as digital transformation, green transformation, and circular economy for Laos; do a good job in social security work, demonstrate the spirit of "mutual love and affection", "comradely love and compatriots' affection", promote the spirit of solidarity like brothers in the same family, sharing the same trench; strengthen the affection between the two armies; always innovate, adapt to the rapidly changing situation in business, technology, and politics, maintain the spirit of the Vietnam People's Army, and further enhance the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in Laos.
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