Latest news with #AFDGroup
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Veolia and AFD Sign Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Ecological Transformation in Developing Countries
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Veolia (Paris:VIE), a global leader in ecological transformation, and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have signed a partnership agreement on July 18, 2025, to strengthen their collaboration in support of environmental services and sustainable development. This three-year strategic partnership aims to combine Veolia's technical and operational expertise with AFD's implementation capacity and local presence to address environmental challenges in emerging and developing countries. The partnership will focus primarily on Latin America, Central Asia, the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East. This strategic alliance, designed to bring private sector expertise to environmental services, targets three key sectors: water and sanitation, waste management, and energy. It includes concrete actions to: reduce inequalities in access to water and sanitation, a core priority of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), preserve water resources, improve governance and regulatory frameworks related to waste management, develop innovative circular economy solutions, advance bioenergy innovation, decarbonize district heating networks. This partnership reflects a shared commitment by AFD and Veolia to strengthen collective action for sustainable transitions. It aims to promote dialogue and collaboration between the two international stakeholders, notably through technical workshops, exchanges, and site visits. The partnership will also be brought to life through joint Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. 'We are proud to join forces with AFD to amplify our positive impact on sustainable development, especially in the fields of water access, waste management, and the energy transition,' said Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia. 'Our operational excellence and on-the-ground expertise, combined with AFD's strong local presence, will help us accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the regions where we operate. This partnership is fully aligned with our GreenUp strategic plan and our ambition to be a catalyst for ecological transformation in all territories. It is a concrete demonstration of how French expertise can act as a powerful accelerator of global ecological transition.' Rémy Rioux, CEO of the AFD Group, added: 'We are very pleased to formalize and strengthen our partnership with Veolia, with whom we already have a rich history of concrete projects—particularly through its subsidiary Seureca in Chad, Guinea, and the Balkans. This agreement will enhance our synergies at the scale of both our organizations to ensure safe and sustainable access to drinking water for populations in our partner countries, and to support their ecological transitions in line with our SDG commitments. Ultimately, this partnership embodies our shared vision to contribute to France's policy of solidarity-based and sustainable international investment.' ▁▁▁ ABOUT AFD The AFD Group finances and accelerates transitions toward a fairer, safer, and more resilient world by working hand-in-hand with local partners around the globe. Through its complementary entities — AFD for public financing, Proparco for responsible private investment, and Expertise France for technical cooperation — the Group addresses all facets of sustainable development. Active in more than 160 countries, including French overseas territories, AFD tailors its actions to local realities and supports community-driven initiatives. With more than 4,000 projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AFD acts on behalf of the French people to mobilize all stakeholders involved in promoting economic development and preserving our global commons — climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality, and global health. With others, for a shared world. ABOUT VEOLIA Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024.
Al Bawaba
13-06-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Orange Becomes the Strategic Partner of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group for digital initiatives
Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange ( Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD Group, and Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, signed an innovative partnership agreement to jointly accelerate digital inclusion and sustainable digital development. The three-year agreement provides a structured framework for cooperation on expertise and the emergence of joint projects internationally. It covers 17 countries in the Africa-Middle East region where Orange is present, as well as Moldova and French overseas departments. Priority themes include:Digital inclusion of populations through the deployment of strategic infrastructure (ex. backbone equipment of very high-speed networks and submarine cables);Financial and energy inclusion, and access to e-services (agriculture, health, education), especially in rural areas;Reduction of the environmental footprint of digital technology;Training and professional integration through digital tools;Support for innovation and entrepreneurship;Forward-looking discussions on ethical data use, security and artificial intelligence for a multi-service operator and key partner in the digital transformation of the Africa-Middle East region, Orange has already opened 16 Orange Digital Centers and 32 Orange Digital Center Clubs in partnership with universities. These are free and accessible to all, and are designed to promote digital inclusion among youth and foster Group supports public authorities, businesses, civil society and innovative ecosystems in their transition toward a more open, accessible and responsible digital world. It works alongside its partners to leverage digital solutions to achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).On the basis of this experience, Orange and AFD Group have worked together for over 20 years on various projects, such as supporting the deployment of fixed and mobile telecom networks for Orange subsidiaries in Jordan and Senegal, training youth in digital tools through Orange Foundations in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar and Tunisia, and supporting coding training programs at Orange Digital Centers in new partnership will strengthen the synergies and increase the dissemination of best practices and innovations in the digital sector. It reflects a renewed ambition aimed at striving towards digital equality and SDG achievement through innovative solutions and collaborative signing the agreement, Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange, stated:"This strategic partnership with AFD Group marks an important milestone in our collaboration. I look forward to continuing this dynamic of international cooperation for a more inclusive and sustainable digital future, reinforcing Orange's commitment to expanding access to digital technology everywhere we operate."Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD Group, said: "AFD Group believes that digital technology is a powerful lever for transforming a diverse range of sectors, including public services, education, health and entrepreneurship. This first strategic partnership with Orange exemplifies this shared ambition to support the emergence of sovereign digital services at a local level by investing in solutions that are innovative, open and responsible." Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, added: "Proparco, AFD Group's subsidiary dedicated to the private sector, is fully committed to strengthening its partnership with Orange, both strategically and operationally. By combining our networks, expertise and resources, we are working with determination to improve digital access for all in France and emerging countries."
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Orange Becomes the Strategic Partner of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group for digital initiatives
The Orange group and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group announce the signing of a framework agreement at VivaTech 2025 making Orange the reference partner in digital matters. This unprecedented agreement with a telecom operator aims to strengthen cooperation between the two groups to improve access to digital services, support innovation and accelerate environmental transition in their common areas of intervention. Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange ( Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD Group, and Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, signed an innovative partnership agreement to jointly accelerate digital inclusion and sustainable digital development. The three-year agreement provides a structured framework for cooperation on expertise and the emergence of joint projects internationally. It covers 17 countries in the Africa-Middle East region where Orange is present, as well as Moldova and French overseas departments. Priority themes include: Digital inclusion of populations through the deployment of strategic infrastructure (ex. backbone equipment of very high-speed networks and submarine cables); Financial and energy inclusion, and access to e-services (agriculture, health, education), especially in rural areas; Reduction of the environmental footprint of digital technology; Training and professional integration through digital tools; Support for innovation and entrepreneurship; Forward-looking discussions on ethical data use, security and artificial intelligence for development. As a multi-service operator and key partner in the digital transformation of the Africa-Middle East region, Orange has already opened 16 Orange Digital Centers and 32 Orange Digital Center Clubs in partnership with universities. These are free and accessible to all, and are designed to promote digital inclusion among youth and foster entrepreneurship. AFD Group supports public authorities, businesses, civil society and innovative ecosystems in their transition toward a more open, accessible and responsible digital world. It works alongside its partners to leverage digital solutions to achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On the basis of this experience, Orange and AFD Group have worked together for over 20 years on various projects, such as supporting the deployment of fixed and mobile telecom networks for Orange subsidiaries in Jordan and Senegal, training youth in digital tools through Orange Foundations in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar and Tunisia, and supporting coding training programs at Orange Digital Centers in Jordan. This new partnership will strengthen the synergies and increase the dissemination of best practices and innovations in the digital sector. It reflects a renewed ambition aimed at striving towards digital equality and SDG achievement through innovative solutions and collaborative initiatives. On signing the agreement, Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange, stated:"This strategic partnership with AFD Group marks an important milestone in our collaboration. I look forward to continuing this dynamic of international cooperation for a more inclusive and sustainable digital future, reinforcing Orange's commitment to expanding access to digital technology everywhere we operate. " Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD Group, said: "AFD Group believes that digital technology is a powerful lever for transforming a diverse range of sectors, including public services, education, health and entrepreneurship. This first strategic partnership with Orange exemplifies this shared ambition to support the emergence of sovereign digital services at a local level by investing in solutions that are innovative, open and responsible." Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, added: "Proparco, AFD Group's subsidiary dedicated to the private sector, is fully committed to strengthening its partnership with Orange, both strategically and operationally. By combining our networks, expertise and resources, we are working with determination to improve digital access for all in France and emerging countries." Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa. Press contacts: Flaminia le Maignan: Service presse AFD: _afdpresse@ Follow us on: X: @ orangegrouppr ( About Orange: Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 40.3 billion euros in 2024 and 125,800 employees worldwide at 31 March 2025, including 69,700 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 294 million customers worldwide at 31 March 2025, including 256 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. These figures account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries). Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan "Lead the Future", built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. "Lead the Future" capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange's leadership in service quality. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: and the Orange News app. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.
Morocco World
12-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
AFD General Director: Morocco's Southern Provinces Deserve More Foreign Investment
Rabat – France Development Agency (AFD) General Director Remy Rioux has renewed the importance of Morocco's development projects in the country's southern provinces in Laayoune and Dakhla, noting that these regions deserve investment from development institutions like the French agency. 'These dynamics highlight the potential for regional cooperation,' he said, citing several sectors like the blue economy, port greening, renewable energies, job creation, and water and sanitation infrastructure. 'The AFD Group has expressed its readiness to ambitiously support sustainable and inclusive development in these regions for the benefit of their inhabitants,' Rioux said as he concluded his four-day visit to the region. The visit is the first mission by an AFD Director General to Morocco's southern provinces, AFD said in a statement, noting that Rioux held several meetings with senior officials from the government in Rabat as well as local administrations in southern provinces. He met in Rabat with Morocco's Minister of Economy Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Morocco's Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, and Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit. 'These meetings reaffirmed AFD's support for Morocco's advanced regionalization,' AFD said. In addition to the government, Rioux also held talks with executives from several institutions, like Omar Lahlou, Governor of the Communal Infrastructure Fund, as well as the leadership of Morocco's fertilizer giant OCP. He further met with the executives from the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University-affiliated African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), which specializes in sustainable agriculture, desertification control, and the development of the camel sector. 'Discussions with researchers and local actors emphasized the need to develop innovative solutions tailored to the region's fragile ecosystem, particularly in water management and sustainable agriculture.' Following several meetings with local officials in Dakhla, the French delegation visited major projects like the construction site of the major Dakhla Atlantic port and the ANP fishing port of the city. AFD's final statement on Rioux's delegation visit comes a few days after the French agency reaffirmed its commitment to making major investments of €150 million in Morocco's southern provinces. ' AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions by bringing in investments and financing,' Rioux told the press last week, noting that he was 'very impressed' by the investments and the quality of infrastructure the region has seen in recent years. AFD's interest in the region comes in line with France's newfound position, with Paris having recognized Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Morocco World
11-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Western Sahara: France's AFD to Invest €150 Million in Morocco's Southern Provinces
Rabat — France is committed to supporting Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. France displayed this commitment through the latest announcement from the French Development Agency (AFD), which is planning to make major investments of €150 million in Morocco's southern provinces. The agency's Director General, Remy Rioux, announced the news from Laayoune during his visit to the region as part of the flurry of visits by French official delegations carried out since the country's newfound historic recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. 'The AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions by bringing in investments and financing,' Rioux told the press, noting that he is 'very impressed' by the investments and the quality of infrastructure that the region witnessed recently. He said this contributed to job creation to meet the expectations of youth in the region. The director also welcomed the presence of private companies and the establishment of industrial zones in the region, adding that AFD's investment in Laayoune Sakia El Hamra serves as a signal to encourage more economic stakeholders. France announced its recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in July of last year in a letter Emmanuel Macron directed to King Mohammed VI. In the message, Macron informed the monarch that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within Morocco's sovereignty over its southern region. He also highlighted the importance of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only feasible political solution to end the dispute. The letter was followed by a State visit by Macron in October of the same year, in which he publicly announced the European country's decision in the Moroccan parliament, noting that France's decision is hostile to nobody. His remarks came in response to Algeria's regime maneuvers and attempts lobbying against France's newfound position, as Algiers has been challenging Morocco's territorial integrity for years by harboring the Polisario Front and financing its hostile terrorist acts against Rabat and interfering in its domestic affairs. Since Macron visited Morocco, official delegations have visited the North African country, especially visiting the southern region for the first time in their capacity as French officials. The delegations that visited southern provinces included Minister of Culture Rachida Dati and Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier, among several others. The latest historic decision France took also includes expanding its consular services to Morocco's southern provinces, particularly to residents of Laayoune, Dakhla, and Es-Semara. This means that for the first time, residents of the region will be able to apply for French visas directly from their city. France confirmed the expansion of its visa services to the region during the official inauguration of a new TLS visa center, which handles consular applications, in Casablanca in April. Tags: AFD in MoroccoAfDB €117 million loan to Morocco
