Chinese companies committed to poverty reduction in Colombia

BOGOTA - By connecting Colombians with the world, Chinese telecoms firms are doing a great job in faciliating the Colombian government's anti-poverty drive, one of its main missions.

ZTE Corp., China's leading telecoms equipment manufacturer, said Monday that it is committed to reducing poverty in this South American country by supplying mobile devices and business services, promoting Internet access, and connecting people together.

"ZTE is contributing to supplying devices and services to improve the economy and develop the country. We offer training programs for the Colombian people and create job opportunities," Zhu Yu, vice director of after-sales service at ZTE for Colombia, told Xinhua.

"The Colombian government is using technologies in the remote control field to allow people to communicate between themselves so that they can educate themselves and do business. We hope that in a few years, the majority of Colombians will have knowledge that will help to improve their quality of life," Zhu said.

Zhu, whose company has been carrying out social and environmental programs in Colombia since 2012, said ZTE also offers help to other countries where it has a presence.

"A latest example of this is Nepal. After the earthquake, our employees helped to re-establish communication and we sent humanitarian assistance with supplies such as medicines, tents and first aid equipment," Zhu said.

According to Zhu, the Colombian economy is growing thanks to the government's security guarantee for foreign investors and citizens, which can increase the country's "technological purchasing power" for products made by the multinational company and other Chinese firms.