Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Orange Group CEO Christel Heydemann on Sunday, 27 September 2026, resulting in significant commitments from the French telecommunications company. Orange will offer training grants to around 200,000 Egyptians, focusing on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with internationally recognized certifications. The company will also allocate €25 million to support technology startups in Egypt.
The training programs, as announced by presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy, aim to equip Egyptian youth with in-demand skills. The grants will cover areas such as AI and cybersecurity, enhancing the employability of young Egyptians. Additionally, Orange committed to providing several Egyptian universities with modern technology laboratories. These labs will enable students to work with current applications and develop practical digital skills.
During the meeting, President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of cooperation with Orange to prepare Egyptian youth for future jobs. He proposed specialized training in AI, data analysis, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The President also suggested opportunities for earning internationally recognized professional certifications in cooperation with global technology partners. These initiatives align with Egypt's efforts to enhance its digital skills programs.
The Orange commitments complement existing digital skills programs in Egypt. The communications ministry recently signed a three-year training agreement with Intel to train one million citizens annually in AI and safe technology use. The presidential Digilians skills initiative aims to prepare young Egyptians for technology and outsourcing jobs. These efforts demonstrate Egypt's focus on developing its digital workforce.
President El-Sisi also discussed potential cooperation with Orange on the second phase of Egypt's national digital health project. He highlighted the group's expertise in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and systems integration. While no agreement was announced, the meeting explored possibilities for collaboration in telecommunications, digital transformation, and technology systems development.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi, Orange Middle East and Africa CEO Yasser Shaker, and Orange Egypt CEO Hesham Mahran. Orange is one of four mobile operators involved in a $3.5 billion spectrum agreement announced in February to expand network capacity. Heydemann noted that Orange's achievements in Egypt, through cooperation with the communications ministry and other state institutions, serve as a model for replication in other countries.
The Egyptian government has been actively promoting digital transformation and entrepreneurship. The communications ministry signed an agreement with Intel on 16 September to provide online training to one million citizens a year for three years. The Intel training program includes AI for Citizens and Digital Trust for All, focusing on AI concepts, practical uses, and safe technology use. These initiatives aim to develop the skills of Egyptian youth and support the growth of the technology sector.
Key points
- Orange commits to training 200,000 Egyptians in AI and cybersecurity with internationally recognized certifications.
- The company allocates €25 million to support technology startups in Egypt.
- Egypt's government is actively promoting digital transformation and entrepreneurship through various initiatives and partnerships.
