Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Christel Heydman, CEO of Orange, on September 27, 2026, to discuss potential cooperation between the Egyptian government and Orange in the telecommunications and technology sectors. The meeting was attended by Egyptian Communications Minister Rafeat Hendy, Orange's Middle East and Africa CEO Yaser Shaker, and Orange Egypt CEO Hisham Mehrain. The discussions focused on leveraging Orange's expertise in digital transformation and technology development.
President El-Sisi praised Orange's success in Egypt, particularly in telecommunications, digital transformation, and smart platforms. He expressed his desire to increase Orange's investments in the Egyptian market, citing the country's promising growth and expansion opportunities. The President also highlighted Egypt's efforts to develop its youth's capabilities and enable them to utilize modern technologies.
Heydman expressed her honor in meeting with President El-Sisi and highlighted the success of Orange's collaboration with the Egyptian government and institutions. She noted that this model of cooperation can be replicated in other countries in the region, particularly in Africa. Heydman also praised the Egyptian government's efforts to support startups and provide initiatives to develop youth skills and promote innovation.
The President and Heydman discussed potential cooperation in the second phase of Egypt's national digital health project. This phase aims to leverage Orange's advanced expertise in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and system integration. The project seeks to improve healthcare services and enhance the overall quality of life for Egyptian citizens.
President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Egyptian government and Orange in preparing Egyptian youth for the future job market. This cooperation would involve providing specialized training programs in artificial intelligence, data analysis, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, as well as supporting the acquisition of internationally recognized professional certifications.
As part of its efforts to support Egypt's digital development, Orange announced that it would provide training scholarships for approximately 200,000 trainees in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, including international certification. The company also allocated €25 million to support startups working in advanced technologies and committed to supporting several Egyptian universities with modern technological labs.
The cooperation between the Egyptian government and Orange aims to drive digital transformation and improve the skills of Egyptian youth. Key aspects of this cooperation include increasing investments in the Egyptian market, supporting startups, and providing training programs in cutting-edge technologies. The partnership is expected to have a positive impact on Egypt's economic and social development.
Key points
- Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi seeks cooperation with Orange for the second phase of the national digital health project.
- Orange to provide training scholarships for 200,000 Egyptian youth in AI and cybersecurity.
- The partnership aims to drive digital transformation and improve the skills of Egyptian youth.
