Ooredoo to donate MVR 100 million for Thalassemia Hospital in return for telecom fee reduction

Ooredoo Company has opted to contribute MVR 100 million towards the construction of the Thalassemia Hospital in exchange for the state lowering the telecom fees that the company needs to pay.

During a press conference at the President's Office, Policy Secretary Abdulla Nazim explained that in 2005, Wataniya (now Ooredoo) was granted permission to provide telecommunication services in the Maldives, with a payment of 6 percent of the company's total revenue and an additional 1 percent for ICT sector development.

Subsequently, the Economic Council deliberated on the company's proposal, deciding to reduce the fee to 5 percent of the revenue and increase it to MVR 200 million from the initial MVR 100 million paid to the government as an advance tax line, payable in a single installment.

In return, Ooredoo will contribute MVR 100 million toward the construction of the Thalassemia Hospital. This adjustment aligns the tax contributions of both Dhiraagu and Ooredoo at 5 percent.

The Cabinet had previously approved the establishment of a dedicated hospital for thalassemia treatment but had not outlined a funding strategy until now.