Orange Telco has launched its first digital centre in Tunisia to support startups with acceleration programs, early-stage investments, and training programs. This will be carried out under four strategic programmes namely; the Coding School (a free tech center which offers trainings to young developers), FabLab Solidaire (a digital production workshop), Orange Fab (a startup accelerator), and Orange Digital Ventures Africa (an investment fund for financing mobile operators in the Middle East and Africa, MEA).
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Orange, a key player engaged in the digital transformation in Africa and the Middle East, launches its first “Orange Digital Centre” in Tunisia via @orange cc: @africanewsfr @AfDB_Group @erickmarincr @S4YE_Coalition @JessicaMuganza @MeralGuzel_UNW. https://t.co/ZFMmvD6QAL pic.twitter.com/adMXymV27M
— Asma Ennaifer (@AsmaEnnaifer) April 28, 2019
The CEO of Orange MEA, Alioune Ndiaye said that similar Digital Centers will be set up in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Cameroun before the end of the year while Morocco and Egypt will follow in 2020. He added that digital centres will play a key role in the countries. It will not only benefit entrepreneurs but also, the students, the unemployed, educated and uneducated.
The new hub will also include a EUR 50 million investment fund to support fintech and edtech startups in the Middle East and Africa. The fund will help enhance managerial capabilities and commercial development of startups.
Orange Foundation aims to provide digital inclusion in countries where the telco operates. Christine Albanel, the Deputy Chair of Orange Foundation said that the initiative is part of their social commitment to ensure that everyone gets a chance to be firmly established in their career path.
It will work closely with the government, academics and other stakeholders to foster employability and also, encourage startups to successfully run innovative businesses.
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