Today, Orange (www.Orange.com) and the German Development Cooperation are inaugurating an “Orange Digital Center” in the Redland Tower at Ankorondrano, a digital ecosystem entirely dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation, attended by the highest political and administrative authorities from Madagascar, Representatives of Germany and France in Madagascar, members of Orange Madagascar board and Orange Group Executive Committee led by its Chairman and CEO Stéphane Richard.

Following in the footsteps of Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt and Jordan, it is in Antananarivo, that this 9th Orange Digital Center is inaugurated.

Spread over 800 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, installed at the University of Antananarivo -, and an Orange Fab start-up accelerator, supported by Orange Ventures Africa, the investment fund.

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

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 inaugurated today, the Orange Digital Center in Madagascar has been operational since October 19, 2021 and has already hosted several training sessions and digital events. In addition, Orange Madagascar, in partnership with some universities in Madagascar agreed to establish two Orange Digital Center Club, extensions of the coding school within the University of Fianarantsoa and the University of Antsiranana, thus complementing the education system to give as many people as possible access to new technologies and support them in putting these technologies to use them 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 programme is also working to advance gender equality and inclusion by promoting access for women and girls to ICT jobs.

Through digital technology, this programme focuses on the following sustainable development goals in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: (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.

Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange, says: “Orange acts as a responsible company across its activities. This sense of responsibility is a central value that has been placed at the heart of the Group’s strategic plan, Engage 2025. To promote digital services as a vector for inclusion and to ensure they are available to the widest possible audience, we aim to open an Orange Digital Center in every country in which we are present by 2025. This ambition clearly demonstrates our determination to harness the positive power of digital innovation.”

Alioune Ndiaye, Chairman and CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, says: “I am very proud to inaugurate the 9th Orange Digital Center today in Madagascar, 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. The objective is to democratize access to digital technology to young people - with or without qualifications - giving them access to the latest technological skills to strengthen their employability and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.”

Anja Heuft , Acting Country Director for Madagascar, Maurice, Seychelles & Comores says: “As an implementing agency of the German government, we, GIZ, are enthusiastic to contribute and accompany the digital transformation in Madagascar with inaugurating the Orange Digital Center today here in Antananarivo. Creating a hub for digital competences, innovative ideas and creative exchange, ultimately improving the employability of youth holds an enormous potential for Madagascar and the future development of its economy and people in the long term. We are happy to scale our joint experiences of the already existing ODC and start another digital success story in Madagascar”

Frédéric Debord, CEO of Orange Madagascar : “Orange Madagascar’s commitment to digital inclusion is a reality. As a partner in digital transformation, we are a major player in the socio-economic development of the country through innovative ecosystems and specific schemes to develop entrepreneurship. Thus, the Orange Digital Center and the 2 Orange Digital Centers Club soon installed in universities in the regions of Fianarantsoa and Antsiranana brings together all the necessary skills to give as many people possible access to new technologies and support in using them to their full extent.”