Hello CEO: Haval van Drumpt, Tre Sweden
- It was a matter of course and we have a history of helping in difficult situations. We did the same during the specific events in Beirut and Afghanistan. When you or someone close to you is in a situation like the one in Ukraine, the last thing you should have to think about is the cost of communication. As an operator, we want to do everything we can to make communication as easy as possible," says Haval van Drumpt.
You have also distributed prepaid cards at the ferry terminal in Nynäshamn to people who fled Ukraine to Sweden; how has this initiative been received?
- It has been very well received both by those who fled the war and the volunteers on the ground in Nynäshamn. Of course, it is most important to first meet basic needs such as food and clothing. Once those needs are met, the first thing you want to do is get in touch with those who are still in Ukraine, or be able to contact the accommodation you will have in Sweden. It is difficult to understand the importance of being able to communicate with loved ones if you have not been in a similar situation yourself. Most people who come have their fathers, sons, brothers or husbands left in Ukraine and it is of course of the utmost importance to be able to reach each other, without having to worry about costs.
- The internet is also essential for getting in touch with Swedish authorities. We distribute 20,000 SIM cards together with our sister company Hallon. We have now reprioritized and are getting help to distribute more SIM cards through, among others, the City Mission at their special accommodation in Stockholm for refugees from Ukraine.
What is your call to action for other tech companies that want to help?
- Think outside the box, everyone can do something! Don't think that what you can do as a company is "too little". All efforts are needed and we in the tech industry can come up with innovative solutions that can really help those who have fled the war. And let's not forget how many people come here and actually need a job. We choose the strategy "dig where you stand", that is, we try to help with what we can, which is telecom and communication that means a lot to many.
- It is great to see the commitment of individuals, employees and companies to the Ukraine crisis. In the midst of one of the darkest events of recent decades, it still gives hope for a brighter future. After all, the forces of good are the strongest in the long run.