Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Christel Heydmann, CEO of Orange, at the presidency on September 27, 2026. The meeting was attended by Egyptian Communications and Information Technology Minister Rafeat Hendy, Orange's Middle East and Africa CEO Yaser Shaker, and Orange Egypt CEO Hisham Mehrain. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between the Egyptian government and Orange.
President El-Sisi expressed his desire to explore possibilities of cooperation with Orange in implementing 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 infrastructure in Egypt.
The President emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Egyptian government and Orange in preparing and qualifying Egyptian youth for the future job market. This cooperation would involve providing specialized training programs and opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analysis, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The goal is to enable them to obtain internationally recognized professional certifications.
President El-Sisi and Heydmann also discussed ways to support Egypt's efforts in developing its digital economy. This includes investing in digital infrastructure, promoting innovation, and enhancing the country's cybersecurity capabilities. Egypt aims to become a hub for technology and innovation in the region.
Heydmann praised the Egyptian government's efforts to support start-ups and small businesses. She highlighted the importance of creating a favorable business environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. The Egyptian government has been working to provide resources and support to start-ups and entrepreneurs.
The meeting between President El-Sisi and Heydmann reflects the strong ties between Egypt and Orange. The company has been operating in Egypt for several years and has invested heavily in the country's telecommunications sector. The cooperation between the two sides is expected to have a positive impact on Egypt's digital development.
The Egyptian government is committed to developing its digital infrastructure and promoting innovation. The country has made significant progress in recent years in areas such as mobile phone penetration, internet access, and digital payments. The cooperation with Orange is expected to further accelerate this progress.
Key points
- President El-Sisi seeks cooperation with Orange on Egypt's digital health project.
- The project aims to leverage Orange's expertise in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
- The cooperation also focuses on preparing Egyptian youth for the future job market.
