The business affiliate of
France Telecom
(
FTE
) - Orange Business Services - has agreed to set up its operating
arm in Qatar through a joint venture. Orange, in partnership with
Sheikh Fahad Bin Ghanem [Al Abdul Rahman] Al Thani, will launch
the subsidiary company EGN LLC.
Orange Business Services aims to capture the market opportunities
in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Qatar
through the newly formed business unit. This most recent project
of the company in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is the very
first one to be associated with large systems integration
programs and operations. In recent times, the upcoming market of
MEA is attracting a lot of foreign companies that are trying to
capitalize on the business prospects of the region.
A team of higher-ranking and efficient professionals including
program directors, senior architects, project managers, subject
matter specialists, and operations' directors will be employed
for the office. The personnel will work toward designing and
building various ventures in oil and gas, the government sector,
telecom company systems integrators, new cities and large
infrastructure projects.
The majority shareholder of the joint venture - Sheikh Fahad Bin
Ghanem - remains highly optimistic about this step that is
expected to aid in developing high-class ICT infrastructure in
the nation as well as provide a facelift to the economic scenario
of the country via new technology and multifarious integration
capability.
Qatar, which has already started working with high quality ICT
systems for e-government and border security, expects to blend
the technology with the knowledge and skills of France
Telecom-Orange.
Management of Orange Business Services displayed its pleasure
over this alliance. The company expects to strengthen its footing
in the Middle East through numerous activities and enhance its
profitability level. Last year, the company started a new local
company in Saudi Arabia. Orange Business Services targets to
witness revenue of €1 billion by 2015 from the various strategic
initiatives applied in the territory.
France Telecom - which entered into a strategic agreement with
Akamai Technologies
(
AKAM
) in November 2012 - currently, holds a Zacks Rank #3, implying a
short-term Hold rating.
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