Local IT Company Growing in Leaps and Bounds

Giving back is key

Human resource development is at the core of Elite’s philosophy and the company strives to enrich the lives of its employees. Mr. Zaw says, “I want to make sure our staff wants to flourish with us. That’s why we want to offer employees a stake in the business in the future. We are constantly being approached for new projects, which, I believe, is due to our capabilities. Our capabilities, in turn, are due to our people.”

While Elite is no stranger to working with well-known international companies such as Hawaii, the group looks forward to welcoming new foreign partners on board. Mr. Zaw says, “Foreign companies need a trustworthy local partner if they are going to excel in Myanmar. More than that, however, they need to have a long-term commitment towards the country, and that is exactly the kind of partner we wish to work with.”

Leading by example

Myanmar’s ICT sector has set a benchmark for transparency and fair tendering processes. However, misconceptions of corruption in both the public and private sector are still prevalent. To this, Mr. Zaw says, “No country can claim to be completely corruption-free. I believe that Myanmar’s leaders are trying their best to encourage ethical business practices. Foreign investors should not believe all they hear about Myanmar until they have come here and have properly explored the market.”

Despite its aggressive growth and plans to go public in the near future, Elite has remained mindful of its social and environmental impact throughout. Having recently formed a committee tasked with developing a cohesive corporate social responsibility strategy, the group sees giving back as part of its responsibility to the country.  “As we approach our five year birthday, want to set an example for other local companies in the telecommunications sector, by being an organisation that pays its taxes on time, cares for its employees and is an ideal partner for foreign investors,” Mr. Zaw concludes.