Orange Business Services has welcomed the French government’s decision to award the French Tech label to the city of Cape Town recently.
The announcement came as part of the “French Tech Hub” programme launched a year ago, which promotes the vitality of the Francophile technology ecosystem abroad.
Orange Business Services is one of the founding members of the French Tech Hub in Cape Town. As part of its “open innovation” approach, Orange supports start-ups through its Orange Fab accelerator and Orange Digital Ventures investment arm. Orange is proud to be advancing the knowledge of the new digital world, while exploring its potential and encouraging the creativity of its partners.
Cape Town’s labelling comes after that of world-class cities such as New York, San Francisco, Tokyo and Israel, and in line with that of Moscow, Montreal, Hong Kong, London, Barcelona and Abidjan.
The title was presented in Paris by France’s Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry, Emmanuel Macron, and Deputy Minister for Digital Affairs, Axelle Lemaire.
The purpose of the French Tech Hub program is to create a bridge between French and South African entrepreneurs, particularly within the digital innovation space. It will support the emergence of French start-ups in South Africa and assist South African start-ups to expand in France, through partnerships with the nine French Tech Hubs in the country.
“France is ranked as the 9th largest investor in South Africa, with more than 300 French companies operating within the country. Obtaining the French Tech label shows that South Africa stands out as a major technological hub in Africa, and the world,” says Yannick Decaux, South Africa country manager at Orange Business Services.
“We have been operating in South Africa and connecting South Africa to the World for 66 years and this recognition confirms the relevance of our decision to have South Africa as our regional headquarter for Africa.”