THE overseas expansion plan of Voyager Innovations Inc. is anchored on the entry of its foreign partner—or partners—here in the Philippines, Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said on Wednesday.
He said before the digital innovations arm of PLDT Inc. plants its flag on foreign soil, the strategic and financial partner—potentially a Chinese tech company—should come in the Manila-based firm first.
“I think we’re waiting for our partner or partners to come in for Voyager here,” Pangilinan replied, when asked for updates of the planned expansion of the company in Asian nations. It is expected for the said partner, which according to Pangilinan will help the company expand through Asia “financially,” to come in this quarter.
The news about a Chinese partner for the digital services arm of PLDT floated late last year.
“There are plans already that have been developed like where to go outside the Philippines,” Pangilinan noted.
The digital innovations and financial technology arm of PLDT is eyeing to enter three territories in Asia in 2018.
Voyager operates PayMaya, a mobile wallet that allows users to make digital and physical transactions, including bills payment, among others.
It recently launched a new payments technology that allows users to pay for their retail transactions via a quick response code.
PayMaya’s most recent partner is the SM Store.
Voyager also allows users to make loans through their mobile phones through the Mobile Loan Saver and Lendr.
The company, likewise, offers digital marketing products through a company called hatch, an online market place through Tackatack and a money remittance service called Smart Padala.
At home, PayMaya has around 8 million users, while Lendr has disbursed more than P26 billion worth of loans in the last two and a half years.