THEY SUPPORT US - Videos
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Words from Africa #4: Stéphane Richard
TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH
Africa in one word
To me, it's an astounding opportunity because Africa will hold the fastest growing economy and demography in the years to come. Africa is a land of innovation and entrepreneurship so for a large company such as Orange it's an incredible opportunity.
One number
It's 50% of the trillion and a half internet users we will be expecting on the planet by the year 2020 so we can say that Africa is the future of internet.
A dream for Africa
First, it's for all the pains Africa was inflected throughout the year to disappear, especially sanitary crisis and political instability. Pushing through this, my dream for Africa is for the necessary conditions for its development to be gathered - through the investments from large companies such as Orange - so we'll offer a future and jobs to all this African youth. It will prevent it from going to Europe by millions. I think that's how we can build a win-win partnership between Europe and Africa.
A story? An anecdote?
The very first time I had the chance to see Steve Jobs, he talked to me about Africa and his question was: "What can Apple do to build phones, terminal accessible to all Africans?". I had this quite extraordinary conversation with Jobs, who was very concerned by this continent.
A proposal?
To use the digital and the networks we have today to allow the largest number of young Africans to have access to education and information. The digital is the best way through. It's an astonishing opportunity.
Africa by night
When I see this picture, I remember the very first time I went to Tananarive, Madagascar. I arrived in this very very large totally black city and I realized that one of the keys of this continent was energy, light, and electricity.
Energies for Africa
First, it's a vital issue: bringing light and electricity to Africa. And then the personality of Jean-Louis Borloo, his incredible capacity to put his talent and his energy at the service of such a great cause.
My commitment
Orange's and my personal commitment are to continue to invest a lot in Africa. It's been over 20 years and we've reached 100 million clients in Africa. There still is a lot to do and for me Africa is one the greatest strategic priorities of the group.CEO, Orange -
Words from Africa #3 : Jean-Pascal Tricoire
TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH
To me, Africa in one word is the largest population in the world.
One number?
Africa in one number is 1 billion inhabitants and 2 billion in 35 years. The world's largest wealth, because a country's most important wealth is its population, a very young population.
A dream for Africa?
To eradicate killing deseases: aids, malaria, and we probably aren't far from achieving it. And my other dream, this time as a Schneider Electric leader, is to bring energy to 600 million people who have no access to electricity throughout the continent. It's half of the population in the world with no access to electricity.
A story? An anecdote?
Africa is one year of my life, it's the place where my first child was born, and so it's a beautiful family story and the discovery of a continent with them.
Africa by night... A proposal?
When I see the picture of Africa by night, this continent - which could hold India, China, Northern America, and Europe - has so little light at night. I think a company like mine and Schneider's associates have a mission to accomplish for this continent. Because lighting up so many lights in Africa means giving the chance to the young population to develop and to build new companies, to create new projects, and to create new things.
Energies for Africa
Jean-Louis Borloo's initiative - which consists in bringing energy to Africa - is absolutely essential. We believe, I believe that a human being's first basic right on Earth is to have a certain and reliable access to energy. Because energy is the basis of development, the basis of education, and so doing this means giving Africa the tools to develop.
My commitment:
Schneider's commitment is to bring electricity to 15 million families in the next 3 years and therefore training 1 million inhabitants, youngsters, and people with the ambition to become an electrician.Schneider Electric -
Words from Africa #12 - Didier Awadi
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Words from Africa #14 - Fifi Tamsir Niane
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Words from Africa #5: Brice Lalonde
TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH
Africa in one word is the world's next adventure.
One number?
Africa in one number is 54 countries.
One dream for Africa?
For her to show us the way.
A story? An anecdote?
I remember being in Ouagadougou not so long ago. I was impressed to see a wall with both Che Guevara and Obama on it, both were heroes for the artists of this wall. I thought it was great!
A proposal
For every African to have access to internet.
Africa by night... A proposal
This beautiful picture - where we see all the continent lit up except for Africa - it followed us throughout the years Jean-Louis Borloo was Minister of Ecology. He was obsessed with it, he was showing it everywhere he went, so it always inspired us for all this time.
Energies for Africa
I think it's fascinating, exciting, and inspiring. I think it's exactly what needs to be done, everyone is enthusiastic and I'm the first one of them. So, I think that the key to everything is the energy, with a little water, I'm not forgetting water I'm including it.
My commitment:
To be useful, if I can be useful, I'm thrilled. I like beautiful causes and the more difficult the more beautiful.UN Special Advisor for Sustainable Development