Morocco | Tamer Emam
Christel Heydemann, CEO of the global telecommunications giant Orange, affirmed that the Group’s new “Trust the Future” strategy places social and environmental responsibility at the core of its future business model, asserting that trust remains the company’s premier competitive advantage.
Detailing the roadmap for the Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) sector during a global conference in Morocco, Heydemann noted that Orange’s vision extends beyond basic connectivity. The strategy seeks to empower communities by providing the “keys to a responsible digital world,” fostering sustainable and credible partnerships with both consumers and governments.
On the environmental front, Heydemann unveiled ambitious targets for the Group to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. She noted significant progress toward this milestone, with more than 30% of the company’s sites already transitioned to solar power. Sustainability, she argued, has evolved from a corporate slogan into a rigorous operational plan that includes building green infrastructure resilient to climate change—a move intended to enhance operational efficiency while minimizing the company’s environmental footprint globally.
Regarding digital inclusion, Heydemann highlighted the Group’s robust infrastructure designed to support youth and innovators. Orange currently operates 50 Orange Digital Centers (ODC) and maintains partnerships with 167 universities. The CEO announced that the company has already trained 1.4 million young people since 2019, with a new target to reach an additional one million beneficiaries by 2030. This initiative aims to equip emerging talent with the technical proficiencies required for the modern labor market.
In the realm of entrepreneurship, Heydemann indicated that Orange has supported more than 450 startups to date, with plans to scale this commitment by backing over 500 additional startups between 2026 and 2030. This initiative is designed to cultivate local innovation ecosystems that contribute to the diversification of national economies. Furthermore, she noted that approximately 40% of Orange employees participate in the “Engaged for Change” social impact programs, reflecting a deep-seated commitment to the company’s humanitarian mission.
Heydemann concluded by outlining the three pillars of operational excellence under the new strategy: enhancing Customer Intimacy, driving Innovative Growth, and achieving Excellence at Scale by leveraging the Group’s global footprint. She reaffirmed that Orange will continue to utilize its unique infrastructure assets to generate value in both the consumer and B2B sectors, while maintaining a strict commitment to data privacy and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence to improve quality of life across the communities it serves.
