El-Sisi meets Orange CEO; Group unveils training grants for around 200,000, €25M startup support – EgyptToday
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives Orange CEO Christel Heydemann, 27 Sept. 2026. Presidency
CAIRO – 27 September 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met Orange CEO Christel Heydemann on Sunday, while the group announced plans to train around 200,000 people in AI and cybersecurity and invest €25 million in advanced-tech startups.
El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s interest in increasing Orange Group’s investments in the Egyptian market, citing the promising opportunities for growth and expansion, the Presidency said in a statement.
The president also highlighted the government initiatives launched
The president also highlighted the government initiatives launched in recent years to build the capabilities of young Egyptians and equip them to use modern technologies.
He praised the group’s success in Egypt in telecommunications services, digital transformation, smart platforms, community development and digital education.
Boosting Egypt-Orange Cooperation
The meeting discussed cooperation with the global telecommunications group in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, in light of Orange’s extensive expertise in telecommunications, digital transformation and technology systems.
El-Sisi expressed his interest in exploring cooperation
El-Sisi expressed his interest in exploring cooperation with Orange in implementing the second phase of the National Digital Health Project, allowing Egypt to benefit from the group’s expertise in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity and systems integration.
He stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Egyptian government and Orange to prepare and train young Egyptians for the future labor market through specialized training programs and opportunities in AI, data analytics, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
He also highlighted the importance of helping young people obtain internationally recognized professional certifications in cooperation with global technology partners.
In line with El-Sisi’s directives to expand digital
In line with El-Sisi’s directives to expand digital skills development programs for Egyptian youth, Orange announced that it would provide training grants for around 200,000 trainees in AI and cybersecurity, including internationally recognized certifications, the statement read.
The company also allocated €25 million to support startups working in AI and advanced technologies.
It further committed to supporting a number of Egyptian universities with modern technology labs, enabling students to keep pace with the latest practical applications and acquire the skills needed to excel in advanced digital technologies, according to the Presidency.
Heydemann, for her part, said Orange’s success in Egypt, in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and various state institutions, represents a successful model that could be replicated in other countries in the region, particularly in Africa.
She also praised the Egyptian government’s efforts
She also praised the Egyptian government’s efforts to support startups across the country and expressed appreciation for state initiatives and programs aimed at developing young people’s skills, promoting innovation and supporting entrepreneurship.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa Yasser Shaker; and CEO of Orange Egypt Hesham Mahran attended the discussions.
