Source: Orange |

Orange and the German Cooperation inaugurate in Guinea the 13th Orange Digital Center in Africa and the Middle East, to train young people in digital technology and enhance their employability

Officially opened today, the Orange Digital Center in Guinea is completely operational and is fully functional to host several digital training and events

The objective is to democratize access to digital technology for young people - with or without qualifications

CONAKRY, Guinea, December 7, 2022/APO Group/ --

Today, Orange (www.Orange.com) and the German Cooperation are inaugurating the 13th “Orange Digital Center”, in Conakry, a digital ecosystem entirely dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation, attended by the highest political and administrative authorities from Guinea, Representatives of Germany in Guinea, members of the Management and Presidency of the Board of Orange Guinea and Representatives of Orange Middle East and Africa.

Following in the footsteps of Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, Liberia, and Botswana, it is in Guinea that the 13th Orange Digital Center in Africa and the Middle East is inaugurated.

Spread over 600 sq. m, it brings together four strategic programs of the Orange group, namely, a coding school, a solidarity FabLab - one of the Orange Foundation's digital manufacturing workshops, and an Orange Fab start-up accelerator, supported by Orange Ventures Middle East and Africa (the investment fund of Orange Group that invests in the most talented startups of Orange Digital Center).

All the programs are provided free-of charge and open to everyone. They range from digital training for young people, 90% of which are practical, guidance for project bearers, start-up acceleration, and investment in these.

Working as a network, the Orange Digital Centers allow experiences and expertise to be shared between countries and offer a simple and inclusive approach to improve young people's employability, encourage innovative entrepreneurship and promote the local digital ecosystem.

Officially opened today, the Orange Digital Center in Guinea is completely operational and is fully functional to host several digital training and events. In addition, Orange Guinea, in partnership with universities, will train students for free and roll out Orange Digital Center Clubs, extensions of the Orange Digital Center within some universities in the regions. Thus, it will complement the education system to give as many people as possible access to new technologies and support them in using these technologies to their full extent.

Orange and the German Development Cooperation are working together as part of a development partnership within the develoPPP program, which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The goal is to fulfil their shared vision, fostering youth employability while supporting sustainable growth and the country's digital transformation. The program is also working to advance gender equality and inclusion by promoting access for women and girls to ICT jobs.

This initiative is fully in line with our commitment as a responsible operator and focuses on the following sustainable development goals: (SDG 4) quality education, (SDG 5) gender equality, (SDG 8) decent work and economic growth, (SDG 9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, (SDG 10) reduced inequalities and (SDG 17) partnerships for goals.

Alioune Ndiaye, Chairman of the Board of Orange Middle East and Africa said: I am honored to be part of the launch of our 13th Orange Digital Center today in Guinea, which is part of a network of 32 Orange Digital Centers that will be deployed not only in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Europe by 2023. The objective is to democratize access to digital technology for young people - with or without qualifications. We want to provide them with the latest technological skills to strengthen their employability and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.”

Frank Lütje, Business Manager of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Guinea said: "The future of Guinea is its youth - and digital is the future of the world. This initiative aims to strengthen the access of young people to the labor market as well as to entrepreneurship so that they can fully contribute to a better future for their generations and Guinea as a whole."

Ousmane Boly Traoré, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Guinea said:It is important for us to ensure that young people are not only competitive in the job market, but that they can also find the resources they need to train in new technologies, to become entrepreneurs and in turn create jobs. The Orange Digital Center is one of the elements of the Orange Group's strategy to enable young people to face this challenge. It is a unique ecosystem dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation. It's a place to live and think for projects that are bound to grow and go as far as possible.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange.

Press contacts:
Orange Africa and the Middle East
Khadija Komara, khadija.komara@orange.com; +33 6 76 45 96 18
Anita Oyono, anita.oyono@orange.com, +33 6 75 02 03 79

GIZ Guinea
Katharine Thayer, katie.thayer@giz.de, + 224 61 217738

GIZ Germany
Simon Welte-Feddersen, simon.welte-feddersen@giz.de, +49 228 4460 4331

About Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA):
Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has 142 million customers at 30 September 2022. With 6.4 billion euros of revenues in 2021, Orange MEA is the first growth area in the Orange group. Orange Money, its flagship mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17 countries and has more than 70 million customers. Orange, multi-services operator, key partner of the digital transformation provides its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.

About Orange (Group):
Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 42.5 billion euros in 2021 and 136,500 employees worldwide at 30 September 2022, including 75,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 286 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2022, including 240 million mobile customers and 24 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its "Engage 2025" strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).

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About GIZ and develoPPP:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise operating worldwide. It supports the German government in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ helps people and societies to shape their own future and improve their living conditions. www.GIZ.de/en

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has set up the develoPPP programme to foster private sector participation to the point where business opportunities and development policy initiatives overlap. To this end, BMZ offers financial and technical support to companies that want to do business or have already started operating in developing and emerging countries. GIZ acts as one of the two official partners implementing the programme on behalf of BMZ. www.develoPPP.de