At the Viva Technology trade show in Paris, Orange Africa and Middle East (OMEA), represented by its CEO Jérôme Hénique, and risingSUD, represented by its President Bernard Kleynhoff, signed a strategic partnership to support the establishment and growth of African startups in the Orange Digital Center network in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France.
This three-year partnership aims to bring together innovation ecosystems in Africa, the Middle East, and the South of France. Specifically, startups from the Orange Digital Center network will benefit from tailored support from the teams at risingSUD, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region’s economic attractiveness and development agency, to establish themselves in the South of France.
They will thus join a dynamic region that is already home to 500,000 companies, including global leaders and startups that are inventing the world of tomorrow.
With this partnership, OMEA strengthens its support for the internationalization of startups in Africa and the Middle East and reaffirms its commitment to developing the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystems. Deployed in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and 8 countries in Europe, the Orange Digital Centers network constitutes a free ecosystem accessible to all. It brings together, in one place, training young people in digital skills, support for project leaders, incubation, acceleration, and startup financing.
According to the report distributed by the APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa, in 2024 alone, risingSUD supported the establishment of 14 African companies in the South of France, including the Orange Digital Center Tunisia startup, Guépard, which opened an office in Marseille. This partnership will allow more startups from Africa and the Middle East to benefit from risingSUD’s expertise, ranging from project development to access to financing and networking with international partners. It will also facilitate access to the Orange Digital Center network for talent and startups in the Southern region.
Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Africa and the Middle East, commented: “This partnership with risingSUD marks a key step in our ambition to promote African innovation internationally. It is in line with the support we offer startups through our Orange Digital Centers. By facilitating their establishment and acceleration in France, particularly in the South region, we are giving young African companies the means to accelerate their growth.”
Bernard Kleynhoff, President of risingSUD and President of the Economic and Digital Development, Industry, Export, Attractiveness and Cybersecurity Commissions of the Southern Region, added: “Thanks to its strategic position, its historical trade flows and its commitment to innovation, the Southern region is a natural bridge between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It is today the leading French region for hosting African investment projects. This partnership opens up new economic opportunities and constitutes a real springboard for the development of businesses on both sides of the Mediterranean.”
GIK/APA