PARIS, France, May 26, 2014/ *– *After the CTIC incubator in Senegal and
the Ebène project in Mauritius, Orange (http://www.orange.com) announces
the opening of the first start-up incubator in Niger. Orange Niger and its
local partners* have helped to set-up CIPMEN, a small- and medium-sized
business (SME) incubator designed to encourage the creation of new and
innovative companies in the country.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 85% of SMEs fail within the first two years, but
80% of companies that undergo an incubation process are still operating
after five years.
*Supporting the creation of innovative businesses in Niger*
CIPMEN was designed to support small- and medium-sized enterprises from
their launch phase until they reach a level of maturity and turn enough
profit to fend for themselves in the long term. The purpose of CIPMEN is to
help innovative SMEs grow on a market where many companies fail to see the
light of day, and to bridge the gap between the informal sector and the
larger national and international companies. Niger offers few suitable
support mechanisms for upcoming businesses, despite the central role that
companies play in creating jobs for young people, helping to form a middle
class, and in creating and redistributing wealth.
The incubator will help companies in future-oriented sectors such as
Information and Communication Technologies, renewable energy and the
environment. The project, initiated by Orange, is a pilot program which
should enable the launch of other regional initiatives in Niger. To find
out more: http://www.cipmen.org
CIPMEN was inaugurated in late April 2014 at the first Startup Weekend held
in Niamey, and during which 80 participants spent 54 hours working on
innovative projects.
*innovation promoting social and economic development*
Through its network investments and its presence in emerging countries,
Orange plays an important role in social and economic development in
Africa. What’s more, ICT services encourage the emergence of new economic
models, new segments of activity, and the development of markets and local
businesses.
Orange is keen to support new ideas that result in progress for all, in
particular those that create economic value at a local level. This is why
Orange supports partnership initiatives that help to speed up these
positive changes. Orange has already contributed to the creation and
support of the CTIC incubator in Dakar and the Ebène project in Mauritius,
in addition to the organisation of Hackathons in Tunisia, Uganda and
Mauritius. The Group has also set-up a specific prize designed to support
African start-ups, the Orange African Social Venture Prize, the fourth
edition of which was launched recently.
These projects embody both Orange’s innovation strategy and the responsible
approach it takes when addressing people’s needs in the fields of
education, healthcare and farming, as well as financial and administrative
services.