Orange Middle East and Africa and risingSUD join forces
This three-year partnership aims to bring together innovation ecosystems in Africa, the Middle East and the South of France.
At the Viva Technology trade show in Paris, Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA), represented by CEO Jérôme Hénique, and risingSUD, led by President Bernard Kleynhoff, announced a strategic partnership designed to accelerate the international growth of African startups. The agreement, spanning three years, will support the integration of startups from the Orange Digital Centre network into the dynamic business environment of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southern France.
The partnership aims to connect innovation ecosystems across Africa, the Middle East and southern France. Startups within the Orange Digital Centre network will receive dedicated support from risingSUD, the regional economic development agency, to establish operations in an area already home to 500,000 companies, including global tech leaders and forward-thinking startups.
This collaboration strengthens OMEAs efforts to internationalise African and Middle Eastern startups and highlights its broader commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship across the continent. With a presence in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and eight in Europe, the Orange Digital Centre network offers an inclusive and accessible platform for digital training, startup incubation and acceleration, and project funding.
Already this year, risingSUD has helped 14 African businesses set up in southern France, including Guépard, a startup from the Orange Digital Centre in Tunisia, which recently opened an office in Marseille. The new partnership will expand such opportunities, enabling more startups from Africa and the Middle East to benefit from risingSUDs expertise, whether through project support, financing access, or connections with international partners. It also opens pathways for local talent and entrepreneurs in southern France to engage with the Orange Digital Center network.
?Commenting on the partnership, Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, commented: This partnership with risingSUD marks a key step in our ambition to promote African innovation internationally. It is a continuation of 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 Sud Region, added: 'Thanks to its strategic position, its historical trade flows and its commitment to innovation, the South of France is a natural bridge between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It is now 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.'
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