KUWAIT, 17 January 2008 — Zain Group, the leading mobile telecoms operator across the Middle East and Africa with operations in 22 countries, has announced that they have signed a three-year “framework” agreement with DNV (Det Norske Veritas) that will help ensure that Zain’s operations in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa are fully compliant with the rigorous international ISO standards.
Haitham Al-Khaled, Zain’s chief strategy officer commented: “The Zain Group vision is to be a global top 10 mobile telecommunications operator by 2011. To achieve a global leader status we have to operate to the highest possible international standards and this agreement sets a global benchmark for our core business processes. Our customers will also benefit from high integrity systems and processes where their financial data is secured to the highest international standards.” He further said, “Excellence in all of our operations and functions is fundamental because it not only means that our customers enjoy an unparalleled experience but it also ensures that we will be operating at optimum levels across the entire group of companies.
“We are delighted to be working with one of the leading accreditation bodies in this field and I am sure that DNV will add immense value to our operations and the service experience of our customers.”
Zain assessed six world-leading organisations as candidates for the task of helping ensure that their processes and procedures for the 22 Zain operations in the Middle East and Africa would effectively gain certification across all critical business areas and functions. At a signing ceremony held in Kuwait City, representatives from Zain and DNV formalized the framework agreement that will prepare Zain for ISO certification at each operation.