Orange Jordan and Proparco Conclude Partnership with Graduation of a New Cohort from the Coding Academy
On behalf of the Chairman of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Shadi Ramzi Al-Majali, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Investment, Dr. Mohammad Abu Omar, sponsored the ceremony marking the conclusion of Orange Jordan’s partnership with Proparco, the investment arm of the French Development Agency (AFD). The event celebrated the graduation of the final cohort of students from the Coding Academy at the Orange Digital Center in Aqaba.
The program achieved an impressive milestone with a 100% success rate, following five months of intensive training totaling 800 hours, complemented by a one-month internship at partner companies to apply acquired skills in real-world environments. The curriculum included training in key programming languages, web and mobile application development, and the completion of eight software projects.
Orange Jordan CEO, Eng. Philippe Mansour, expressed his pride in this partnership and the success of the graduating class, which represents the fifth cohort from the Aqaba Coding Academy and the second under the partnership with Proparco. He highlighted the graduates’ dedication and ambition in leveraging their digital skills to create real job opportunities.
Eng. Mansour emphasized that Orange’s continuous support for Jordanian youth reflects its role as a leading and responsible digital provider. Over the past six years, the Coding Academy at the Orange Digital Center has had a wide-reaching societal impact, transforming the lives of more than 1,022 young men and women, 80% of whom have joined the labor market.
Dr. Abu Omar underscored the importance of empowering youth and developing their skills in IT and entrepreneurship, noting that this vital project contributes to transforming Aqaba into a smart city and strengthens opportunities for youth engagement in innovative entrepreneurial projects. This aligns with ASEZA’s strategy to develop skills and position Aqaba as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sebastien Flory, Proparco’s Regional Director for the Middle East, expressed pride in supporting the students of the Coding Academy, praising the program’s blend of high-quality curricula and the selection of ambitious youth, making it a unique experience leading to success. He added that opening new horizons for young people and empowering them lies at the heart of Proparco’s mission.
The ceremony also featured a panel discussion titled “Sustaining the Growth of Startups in Aqaba”, with the participation of ASEZA Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs, Dr. Thabet Hassan Al-Nabulsi, Orange Jordan CEO Eng. Philippe Mansour, and several entrepreneurs from Orange incubators and accelerators. The discussion explored opportunities to develop Aqaba’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and empower youth to establish scalable startups.
It is worth noting that the Orange–Proparco agreement, launched last year, aims to equip young men and women with digital and life skills, enhancing their employability. Since the start of this collaboration, a total of 239 young men and women have graduated across four Jordanian governorates: Zarqa, Irbid, Aqaba, and Balqa. Women represented 42% of participants, with the program achieving strong employment rates, in addition to graduates who went on to establish startups through their final projects.
For more information, please visit: www.orange.jo
The program achieved an impressive milestone with a 100% success rate, following five months of intensive training totaling 800 hours, complemented by a one-month internship at partner companies to apply acquired skills in real-world environments. The curriculum included training in key programming languages, web and mobile application development, and the completion of eight software projects.
Orange Jordan CEO, Eng. Philippe Mansour, expressed his pride in this partnership and the success of the graduating class, which represents the fifth cohort from the Aqaba Coding Academy and the second under the partnership with Proparco. He highlighted the graduates’ dedication and ambition in leveraging their digital skills to create real job opportunities.
Eng. Mansour emphasized that Orange’s continuous support for Jordanian youth reflects its role as a leading and responsible digital provider. Over the past six years, the Coding Academy at the Orange Digital Center has had a wide-reaching societal impact, transforming the lives of more than 1,022 young men and women, 80% of whom have joined the labor market.
Dr. Abu Omar underscored the importance of empowering youth and developing their skills in IT and entrepreneurship, noting that this vital project contributes to transforming Aqaba into a smart city and strengthens opportunities for youth engagement in innovative entrepreneurial projects. This aligns with ASEZA’s strategy to develop skills and position Aqaba as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sebastien Flory, Proparco’s Regional Director for the Middle East, expressed pride in supporting the students of the Coding Academy, praising the program’s blend of high-quality curricula and the selection of ambitious youth, making it a unique experience leading to success. He added that opening new horizons for young people and empowering them lies at the heart of Proparco’s mission.
The ceremony also featured a panel discussion titled “Sustaining the Growth of Startups in Aqaba”, with the participation of ASEZA Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs, Dr. Thabet Hassan Al-Nabulsi, Orange Jordan CEO Eng. Philippe Mansour, and several entrepreneurs from Orange incubators and accelerators. The discussion explored opportunities to develop Aqaba’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and empower youth to establish scalable startups.
It is worth noting that the Orange–Proparco agreement, launched last year, aims to equip young men and women with digital and life skills, enhancing their employability. Since the start of this collaboration, a total of 239 young men and women have graduated across four Jordanian governorates: Zarqa, Irbid, Aqaba, and Balqa. Women represented 42% of participants, with the program achieving strong employment rates, in addition to graduates who went on to establish startups through their final projects.
For more information, please visit: www.orange.jo
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