Abidjan, 20th of September 2022-[sur ]Birimian, the first investment company dedicated to premium brands of African heritage, and Orange Bank Africa (OBA), a leading actor in mobile financial services in Africa, have signed a unique partnership dedicated to financing Ivorian cultural operators.
The official launch of the program took place on Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 in Abidjan, in the presence of Mrs. Françoise Remarck, Minister of Culture and Francophonie, and Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange Group.
The Birimian x OBA program aims to facilitate the financing of working capital needs of brands and actors working to promote Ivorian cultural excellence. With a focus on gender, this program is particularly aimed at companies founded by women, or employing women in their production cycle.
The first cohort of companies benefiting from this program is composed mainly of brands operating in the fields of high-end ready-to-wear, jewelry and premium accessories. Among these first beneficiaries, symbols of the new Ivorian creative guard such as Olivia Perez, Ysand, Yalerri and Ibrahim Fernandez.
The official launch of the program took place on Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 in Abidjan, in the presence of Mrs. Françoise Remarck, Minister of Culture and Francophonie, and Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange Group.
The Birimian x OBA program aims to facilitate the financing of working capital needs of brands and actors working to promote Ivorian cultural excellence. With a focus on gender, this program is particularly aimed at companies founded by women, or employing women in their production cycle.
The first cohort of companies benefiting from this program is composed mainly of brands operating in the fields of high-end ready-to-wear, jewelry and premium accessories. Among these first beneficiaries, symbols of the new Ivorian creative guard such as Olivia Perez, Ysand, Yalerri and Ibrahim Fernandez.
ABOUT BIRIMIAN
Birimian, the first investment company dedicated to luxury and premium brands inspired by African heritage, was created by Laureen Kouassi-Olsson to support creative designers and labels in their growth and international development over the long term. Birimian’s main objective is to accelerate the emergence of African designers and the diaspora by positioning itself as their financial partner of reference in the promising sectors of African creative exception: fashion, beauty, cosmetics, jewelry and lifestyle.
Birimian targets brands that embody the culture, tradition, history and cultural heritage of the continent in its diversity, through their DNA and identity, reinvented according to modern and contemporary codes.
Birimian’s approach is based primarily on capacity building, institutionalization of creators, and access to financing. Birimian has created a unique acceleration program in collaboration with the Institut Français de la Mode as well as an innovative financing program for designers in Côte d’Ivoire, in partnership with Orange Bank Africa.
ABOUT ORANGE BANK AFRICA
Orange, acte
Orange, a major player in telecoms in Africa and the Middle East, and NSIA, a leader in bancassurance, have together created Orange Bank Africa in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Headed by Jean-Louis Menann-Kouamé, OBA’s ambition is to offer customers a simple credit and savings product that can be accessed at any time from their cell phone.
Orange Bank Africa meets the needs of a large part of the population, often excluded from the traditional banking world, by enabling them to borrow or save small amounts essential for their daily lives.
Orange’s strategy in mobile financial services in Africa aims to offer solutions that are accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their income level or location. Orange Bank Africa’s objective is to become the reference player in financial inclusion in West Africa.
MEDIA CONTACT
Birimian –
Poinciana Agency
Nicolas Teisserenc
nicolas@poinciana.co
+33(0)618096690
Orange –
Khadija Komara – khadija.komara@orange.com +33 6 76 45 96 18
Ibtissame Nafii – ibtissame.nafii@orange.com +33 6 37 38 60 50
Marina Dely – marina.dely@orangebank.ci +225 07 48 99 88 80
Liliane Kipré – liliane.kipre@orangebank.ci +225 07 07 73 32 32
The Ministry of Culture and Francophonie of Cote d’Ivoire, the Ministry in charge of promoting Youth and Youth Employment, Birimian Ventures and Orange Bank Africa are proud to announce Fin Culture, an initiative built to finance cultural and creative endeavours by young Ivorians.
How do we facilitate access to finance for African fashion and creative entrepreneurs? Why is this process crucial for the development of an African creative economy? And how does the Birimian x OBA financing program fit into our global strategy to support brands of African heritage?
Birimian and Orange Bank Africa have strengthened their partnership by signing an extension to the envelope dedicated to their financing program for Ivorian creative and cultural entrepreneurs.
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