A dedicated humanitarian, Ehsan Bayat has made numerous contributions to the development of his country of Afghanistan through business and philanthropy. In 2002, he embarked on a mission to help rebuild his country following decades of political turmoil and established the Afghan Wireless Communication Company. Under Dr. Bayat’s leadership, the company offered the first mobile phone services to the people of Afghanistan. It has since grown into the country’s largest telecommunications provider of 3G and 4G/LTE data, internet, and mobile payments services. As head of Afghan Wireless, Ehsan Bayat has helped the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure grow significantly, with services reaching over 5 million subscribers.

Dr. Bayat is also the founder of the private media company Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN). The network broadcasts news about current affairs, as well as social, cultural, and entertainment programming. With ATN, Dr. Bayat has sought to facilitate the flow of information among the Afghan people.

Dr. Bayat has earned several accolades for the work he has done to support the economy of Afghanistan. The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce honored him with its inaugural Businessman of the Year Award in 2007. The following year, he received the Canada-Afghanistan Business Council Corporate Social Responsibility Award.

Outside of his business endeavors, Ehsan Bayat has dedicated much of his career to philanthropy. In 2005, he launched the Bayat Foundation to tackle some of the most pressing humanitarian concerns in Afghanistan. The organization has helped fund over 300 projects, many of which have focused on public health. Over the years, the Bayat Foundation has funded the construction of 13 maternity hospitals nationwide. The organization has also dedicated funding to educational causes, helped build orphanages, provided textbooks to students, and renovated university facilities. Dr. Bayat maintains oversight of all program development as chairman of the board, a role that has earned him several humanitarian and human rights awards.