Connect with us

Business

Orange steps up the digitalization of its offers in Africa and the Middle East

Published

on

Orange

To enhance its customer relations channels, Orange has developed 21 bots available in 11 countries in Africa and the Middle East

CASABLANCA, Morocco, August 31, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Orange (www.Orange.com) wanted to meet its customers’ expectations by picking up speed on its digital offers in several countries in Africa and the Middle East. Many customers are more interested in digital, a trend that has gained momentum due to the Covid crisis. For example, Orange mobile data traffic increased 30% between 2020 and 2021.

People want to see and hear each other when they are apart, stay in contact with their communities through social media, share and express themselves, trade, access online knowledge, make their lives easier and be entertained.

In this context, Orange is adapting and transforming its organization to create a “Digital Factory” that will develop and extend its digital offer in several countries.

  • The “My Orange” multi-service mobile app to easily manage mobile and landline contracts

Launched in 2016, this free application is available on iOS, Android and as a web app in 17 countries and allows you to subscribe to voice and data offers, transfer money, view your balance, etc.

Since 2021, it has been enhanced with the “My Place” service, available in 8 countries, which provides entertainment content (films and series, games, music, news, etc.).

This practical and customizable app now has over 13.5 million users.

Orange Cameroon created a Business space that professional customers can use to access a catalog of dedicated offers

  • E-shops to buy your mobile online

In 12 countries, customers can order their mobile and various telecoms and internet accessories online. And in March 2022, Orange Cameroon created a Business space that professional customers can use to access a catalog of dedicated offers.

  • 100% digital offers to meet users’ growing needs

In Côte d’Ivoire, in June 2021 Orange launched a fiber offer exclusively for online subscriptions. This convergent fiber offer, for households and professionals, enables you to place an order without going to a branch or contacting a sales representative. The customer gets their installation in under 72 hours with just one visit from the Orange technical team for the delivery and installation.

In Jordan, Orange launched “Jood” in June 2022, which is a new offer providing more data, with a 100% digital customer journey, from ordering to delivery, including all assistance.

Similar offers are planned soon in Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.

  • Chatbots: from assistance during a purchase to ID validation

To enhance its customer relations channels, Orange has developed 21 bots available in 11 countries in Africa and the Middle East: Morocco, Jordan, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Tunisia, Mali.

These bots can be accessed via the web portal, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Twitter and the My Orange app. Initially designed for information purposes (viewing your offer, voice and data balance, etc.), chatbots are now moving towards transactional services (money transfers, top-ups, etc.). In Guinea, Cameroon and Jordan you can now buy products and services via the chatbot in addition to receiving customer assistance.

Orange also plans to develop voicebots in local languages to address the needs of all populations.

Finally, in Cameroon there is a WhatsApp chatbot that makes it easier to collect customers’ ID documents by taking a photo using their smartphone.

This digitalization of offers has also been applied to the B2B segment to develop “self-care” tools for professional customers.

Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and has 139 million customers as at June 30, 2022. With €6.4 billion in turnover in 2021, Orange MEA is the Group’s main growth region. Orange Money, with its mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17 countries and has over 70 million customers. Orange, a multi-service operator, benchmark partner of the digital transformation, provides its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange.

Business

Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

Published

on

Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

Continue Reading

Business

Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

Published

on

PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Continue Reading

Business

Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

Published

on

Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Continue Reading

Trending