Orange launches its first ‘Orange Digital Centre’ in Tunisia

Orange has launched the ‘Orange Digital Centre’ in Tunis, which is built around a completely new concept and entirely dedicated to innovation.

Attending the launch were Anouar Maarouf, Tunisian Minister of Communication Technologies and the Digital Economy, Abdelkoddous Saadaoui, Tunisian Secretary of State for Youth, Alioune Ndiaye, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa, Christine Albanel, Senior Executive Vice-President of CSR, Diversity, Partnerships and Philanthropy and Deputy Chair of the Orange Foundation, and Thierry Millet, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Tunisia.

The Orange Digital Centre has been set-up as a centre to provide wide-ranging support for startups. From training young people in coding to more direct guidance, as well as startup acceleration and investment in early-stage companies, the new sites are intended for all kinds of different people.

“I am very proud to launch the first Orange Digital Centre in Tunis,” said Ndiaye.

“By the end of this year, we will set-up similar centres in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone.

“From 2020 onwards, Morocco, Egypt and the rest of the countries in the Middle East and Africa region will have their own Orange Digital Centre. Dedicated to our countries’ digital development, these new spaces aim to consolidate Orange’s standing as a key player in the Digital Transformation of the countries where we operate.

“Functioning as a network, these sites favour sharing experiences and expertise in a way that will benefit not just entrepreneurs but also students, young people with or without degrees, and young people undertaking a career change. We will therefore work in close collaboration with all our stakeholders, including governments and academics, to strengthen the employability of these young people and to encourage them to run businesses and to innovate.”

Albanel added: “The mission of the Orange Foundation in the countries where the Group operates is to use digital technology to provide everyone with a chance. This new initiative is part and parcel of the ambition to make digital inclusion the key focus of our social commitment.

“The ‘FabLab Solidaire’, which is part of the Foundation’s inclusion programmes, is a gateway that will enable young people to develop new skills and firmly establish their career path.”