Al Ahram Beverages Fuels Egyptian Innovation with Orange Corners Partnership

Editorial Team

Last updated 30-10-2025

4 min

Al Ahram Beverages and Orange Corners Egypt support young entrepreneurs through mentorship and collaboration.

Orange Corners is a Netherlands-backed initiative empowering Egyptian startups with local government support.

The partnership has already helped over 250 entrepreneurs and launched numerous successful businesses.

Al Ahram Beverages prioritises local raw materials and sustainable production, boosting the local economy.

This collaboration aligns with Egypt's Vision 2030, fostering innovation and economic growth.

It’s not every day that you see a beverage company roll up its sleeves to help young innovators find their feet. But that’s exactly what happened when Al Ahram Beverages Company hosted more than 50 budding entrepreneurs from Orange Corners Egypt at its Sharkia facility — a visit that marked two years of collaboration between the two sides.

For a bit of background, Orange Corners Egypt is part of a global initiative from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, carried out locally by Outreach Egypt with the backing of Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation. Its aim? Pretty simple, really — to give young Egyptians the mentorship, training, and exposure they need to turn ideas into real, sustainable businesses.

At the event in Sharkia, you could feel the buzz. The entrepreneurs — hailing from as far afield as Qena, Luxor, Alexandria, and Kafr El Sheikh — walked through one of ABC’s biggest and most advanced plants. They sat in on intense mentorship sessions with senior ABC managers from departments like supply chain, finance, sustainability, and logistics. From what I gathered, no question was too small, and no topic was off limits. Everyone seemed genuinely curious, and that curiosity was met with equal enthusiasm.

Nikolay Mladenov, the company’s managing director, put it nicely when he said the partnership shows “how the private sector can help nurture the next generation of Egyptian innovators.” He also pointed out something I reckon many don’t realise — nearly 90% of ABC’s raw materials come from local sources. That’s spot on if you ask me; it’s one thing to talk about supporting the local economy, and quite another to put your money where your mouth is.

Cherine Aidarous, who heads Corporate Affairs at ABC, also looked back fondly on the past two years. She mentioned that the collaboration has already supported over 250 entrepreneurs and helped nearly 140 startups get off the ground, with around half of those led by women. It’s a stat worth celebrating — and a reminder that inclusion isn’t just a buzzword here. “Seeing that many women take the lead was truly inspiring,” she said, and I could almost feel the pride behind those words.

It’s been quite a ride for Orange Corners Egypt too. Earlier this year, the programme welcomed 100 new startups from the Delta into its second cycle and launched another cohort in Luxor. About 30 startups from Upper Egypt even received grants from the Orange Corners Innovation Fund — out of over a thousand applicants. Talk about competition! And yet, what stands out is the diversity of ideas, industries, and backgrounds these entrepreneurs represent.

On the flip side, it’s not just about giving out grants or holding factory visits. Dalia El Nazer, Orange Corners Egypt’s programme manager, made the point that authentic change happens when the private sector becomes deeply involved — moving beyond charity projects towards real, long-term engagement. I couldn’t agree more. It’s the sort of mindset shift that makes a lasting difference in developing an ecosystem.

Now, a quick word about Al Ahram Beverages itself. With more than 120 years of history in Egypt and around 1,500 employees spread across its sites, the company isn’t exactly a newcomer. In fact, it pumped over $30 million into operations in 2023 alone, investing in new, high-efficiency production lines at the Sharkia plant. Those upgrades not only lifted output and created jobs but also cut water and energy use by half. And believe it or not, the company managed 100% PET circularity two years running — something that makes even sustainability enthusiasts at Arageek, like myself, perk up a bit.

All told, this collaboration feels like more than just good PR. It’s a living, breathing example of what happens when businesses and entrepreneurs pull in the same direction — tackling Egypt’s Vision 2030 goals while giving young people the shot they deserve. Sure, it’s a bit of a faff bringing all these moving parts together, but the result? Well… I mean, it’s definately worth it.

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