Under the patronage of Dr. Mohammad Abu Omar, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Investment at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Orange Jordan and Proparco, the private sector financing arm of the French Development Agency (AFD Group), celebrated the graduation of the final cohort from the Coding Academy at the Orange Digital Center in Aqaba.
The milestone marked the conclusion of a successful partnership that recorded a 100% graduation rate. Over five months, students completed 800 hours of intensive training, followed by a one-month practical placement at partner companies. The program covered key programming languages, mobile and web development, and culminated in the delivery of eight software projects.
Commitment to Youth Empowerment
Orange Jordan CEO Philippe Mansour expressed pride in the achievements of the Aqaba cohort, noting it was the fifth in the city and the second in collaboration with Proparco. He highlighted the broader impact of the Coding Academy, which has trained more than 1,022 Jordanian youth over six years, with 80% securing employment. “Orange’s commitment to Jordanian youth reflects our role as a responsible digital leader, supporting their ambitions and creating real opportunities,” Mansour said.
Dr. Abu Omar underscored the program’s alignment with the Aqaba Authority’s vision of transforming the city into a smart, entrepreneurial hub, saying it strengthens youth participation in innovation and startups.
From Proparco, Sebastien Fleury, Regional Director for the Middle East, praised the program’s rigorous curriculum and motivated participants, noting that “opening new horizons for youth is at the heart of Proparco’s mission.”
Entrepreneurship and Startup Growth
The graduation ceremony also featured a panel discussion titled “Sustaining Startups Growth in Aqaba”, with participation from Dr. Thabet Al-Nabulsi, Commissioner for Tourism and Youth, alongside Eng. Mansour and several entrepreneurs. The discussion focused on expanding Aqaba’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, fostering innovation, and empowering youth to build scalable startups.
Impact of the Partnership
Launched last year, the Orange–Proparco collaboration has empowered 239 graduates across Zarqa, Irbid, Aqaba, and Balqa, with 42% female participation. The program has delivered strong employment outcomes and inspired several graduates to launch startups based on their graduation projects.
