CASABLANCA, Morocco: Orange
(http://www.Orange.com)
officially inaugurates the Orange Middle East and Africa operational head
office in Morocco in the presence of Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of
Orange; Alioune Ndiaye, CEO Orange Middle East and Africa; the members of
Orange’s Executive Committee and local officials.
The new headquarters is located in Casablanca Finance
City Tower (CFC) (http://bit.ly/2NkSTSv)
in the heart of Casablanca. The building meets the most recent standards with
international “LEED Gold” certification from the World Green Building Council.
With 900 m2 over two floors, the Orange Middle East and Africa head office
is at the cutting edge of technology with video-conference and telepresence
rooms enabling the teams to remain connected to other countries in the region,
as well as a Social Hub that supervises and monitors the digital activity of
Orange and the industry in general in Africa and the Middle East in real-time.
“I am very proud to inaugurate
alongside Stephane Richard and in the presence of all the members of the Orange
Group’s Executive Committee this new head office in Casablanca. It sends a
highly symbolic message, a turning point in the history of the Group that
provides further proof of our desire to be even closer to our customers and to
make Orange MEA the preferred multi-services operator for people in Africa and
the Middle East,” says Alioune Ndiaye, CEO Orange Middle East
and Africa.
“Orange is one of the rare
international groups to have made the strategic choice, 20 years ago, to seek
to develop in Africa and the Middle East. We have always been convinced of the
immense potential of this region. In many ways, it can be seen as a model for
digital transformation; mobile money is a great example of this. One of the key
success factors behind new services is to develop them in Africa so that they
are adapted to specific local requirements and so meet the needs of our
customers. That is why we have decided to organise the management of our
business in Africa and the Middle East from within the region directly from the
African continent,” adds Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of
Orange.
With an average annual growth rate of 6%, Orange MEA has demonstrated that its
economic and financial model is robust, making it the leading region in terms
of growth in the Orange Group. Starting in 2015, Orange chose to give its
subsidiary, Orange MEA, more autonomy in order to grow its business in the region.
Alioune Ndiaye, appointed to head the subsidiary in May 2018, wants to see a
strong local foothold, which is essential to finding relevant responses that
meet the needs of the African people. He has since made a series of
appointments of senior managers from countries in Africa and the Middle East.
In all countries where the Group operates in the region, the 18,000 employees
contribute to local social and economic development. Orange helps to create
growth both through its business activities as an operator and its social and
environmental actions. Its activities contribute significantly to GDP across
its footprint: 8% in Cameroon, 8.2% in Guinea, 11% in Côte d’Ivoire and 11.2%
in Senegal1.
Every year, Orange invests 1 billion euros in Africa and the Middle East in
order to further improve the connectivity and performance of its networks.
Africa and the Middle East a driver of growth in the Engage 2025 plan
The new, hi-tech headquarters of Orange Middle East and Africa reflects
Orange’s aim of being the leader in its markets by being closer to its
customers. Orange plans to reinforce its multi-services strategy so that
diversified services represent 20% of the business by the end of the Engage
2025 plan period. In terms of financial services, Orange Money will achieve
revenue of about 900 million euros and, at the same time, the Group will
continue to develop content, e-health and energy offers.
Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East where it had
125 million customers on 30 October 2019. With sales revenue of €5.2 billion in
2018, this area is a strategic priority for the Group. Orange Money, its
mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17
countries and has 45 million customers. Orange, a multi-services operator and
leading partner in digital transformation, brings to bear its expertise to
support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
One African in ten is a customer of Orange Middle East and Africa and one African
in thirty is a customer for Orange Middle East and Africa’s banking and
financial services. Furthermore, almost 30% of the Orange Group’s 4G customers
reside in Africa and the Middle East.
