Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Orange Egypt, in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Aswan University, has launched its first digital training center in Upper Egypt, marking a major step toward expanding digital skills development and youth empowerment beyond the capital.
The new Orange Digital Center in Aswan aims to equip young people with in-demand digital skills and prepare them for effective integration into the labor market. The initiative offers free technical training and targeted support for university students, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs from Aswan and other governorates across Upper Egypt, a region that has traditionally had more limited access to advanced technology training.
The center forms part of Orange Egypt’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy and is supported by the German government. It builds on the successful model of the Orange Digital Center in Cairo, established in 2021 through cooperation between Orange Egypt and GIZ, which has since trained thousands of young Egyptians and improved their employability in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Loay Saad El-Din Nosrat, President of Aswan University, said the university’s participation aligns with Egypt’s national agenda for digital transformation and human capacity development, as well as the strategy of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He emphasized that the initiative helps bridge the gap between academic education and the real needs of the labor market.
Nosrat noted that Aswan University is hosting the center on campus and providing the academic and organizational framework required for its operation. The university is also coordinating with relevant faculties to ensure that the center’s training programs complement academic curricula and support research and innovation activities.
The center’s services are open not only to university students but also to young people from the wider Upper Egypt region. In addition to structured training programs, it offers support for research-related initiatives and innovation-driven projects, reinforcing the role of universities as engines of local development.
Maha Nagy, Chief Communications Officer at Orange Egypt, said the launch of the Aswan center reflects the company’s long-term commitment to social responsibility and youth empowerment. She described digital skills development as a strategic priority for Orange Egypt, stressing that expanding access to high-quality digital training is essential for inclusive growth.
Nagy added that the Aswan center builds on the proven success of the Cairo Digital Center and reaffirmed Orange Egypt’s plans to expand similar hubs nationwide, in line with government efforts to promote digital education, innovation, and entrepreneurship among young people across the country.
From the development cooperation perspective, Shaheera Wasfi, Head of Governance and Community Development at GIZ, said the project exemplifies Germany’s approach to working with the private sector to create sustainable development outcomes. She explained that such partnerships help extend opportunities to underserved communities, support decent employment, and strengthen youth participation in digital transformation.
The project was jointly implemented by Orange Middle East and Africa and GIZ on behalf of the German government under the develoPPP program, with funding support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through its “Decent Work for a Just Transition” initiative.
Operating as an integrated digital hub, the Orange Digital Center in Aswan offers a wide range of free, in-person and online training programs. These include software development, embedded systems, data analytics, cybersecurity, and practical training in hardware, electronics, and rapid prototyping technologies. The center also provides advisory and technical support for innovators, while hosting technology-focused events, competitions, and hackathons.
By expanding advanced digital training to Upper Egypt, the initiative aims to narrow the digital divide, foster innovation, and promote social inclusion, positioning young people in the region to play a more active role in Egypt’s growing digital economy.
