Singapore ride-hailing app Grab launches service in Cambodia
At its launch yesterday in Phnom Penh, representatives from the Singapore-based technology company announced the signing of two new memorandums of understanding (MoU) with both the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and the United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia, which respectively outline plans for using Grab’s data to reduce traffic congestion and limit carbon emissions in the Kingdom.
Hooi Ling Tan, who co-founded Grab five years ago, said that three of her company’s long-term goals in Cambodia include encouraging financial inclusion, lessening traffic congestion and improving road safety.
“We want to push for online banking, so we enable every single driver to have a bank account,” she said. “We also have an open traffic platform which allows us to share data on congestion, informing people when and how to travel.”
Wee Tang Yee, Grab country head for Cambodia and Thailand, added that in a country where the leading cause of death is traffic accidents caused by driver error, the company expects to invest in development projects to see roads become safer in Cambodia.
“We have heavily invested in the safety of our platform,” he said. “The Grab accident rate is five times lower than the average in each country where we operate, and every ride is covered by personal insurance.”
He explained that while Grab’s car-hailing service GrabCar and online payment platform GrabPay will only be available in Phnom Penh for now the company expects to expand in the near future.