Frontiir: CDC

(asked on 2nd February 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in light of the Government's commitment on 2 February 2021 to review all indirect support to the Myanmar government, what recent assessment he has made to the status of funds allocated by CDC to Frontiir Co. Ltd.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 8th February 2021

CDC Group's (CDC) investment in Frontiir has previously helped connect over one million people in Myanmar to the internet at affordable prices, thereby increasing access to information, boosting businesses, supporting education and tackling poverty. CDC carries out due diligence on every investment it makes, including Frontiir. Frontiir has at all times adhered to international best practice and the company has become an observer of the Global Network Initiative at CDC's request.

Following the Myanmar military coup on 1 February, the UK Government is reviewing all programmes in country and will work to ensure no funds reach the military. CDC has enhanced the private sector due diligence regime to effectively mitigate the risk of UK funds going to government institutions. In addition, FCDO has written to partners asking them to review supply chains, to check UK money is not being used to purchase goods and services from military owned companies.

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