Global digital operator VEON Limited has partnered with the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation to jointly finance innovative digital projects in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The agreement was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed during the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Present at the signing were GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer and Foundation President John Giusti, Jazz CEO Amir Ibrahim, and Banglalink CEO Erik Aas.

Under the agreement, Jazz and Banglalink will co-finance selected Bangladeshi and Pakistani startups during the 2026 funding round. In addition to financial support, VEON and its subsidiaries will contribute to ecosystem development and capacity building, enabling selected ventures to expand more rapidly.

The GSMA Innovation Fund identifies and supports startups in developing countries that address socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Projects are selected through a transparent and competitive process following each funding round announcement, with final selections made after rigorous evaluation by the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation.