On June 19, 2024, Africa Global Logistics (AGL) inaugurated its “YIRI” innovation center in Abidjan, in the presence of the Ivorian Minister of Digital Transition and Digitization, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, the Minister of Youth Promotion, Professional Integration, and Civic Service, Mamadou Touré, AGL's top management, and key players in the digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Côte d'Ivoire and Africa.

 

With a capacity of 247 m², this innovation center aims to stimulate creativity among AGL employees, customers, and universities, and to support the development of start-ups in Africa. It will promote innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, foster the adoption of emerging technologies, and stimulate job creation and the development of local skills.

 

Comprising offices, meeting rooms, modular training spaces, a conference room, and a relaxation area, YIRI will support young African entrepreneurs in carrying out innovative digital projects in an environment conducive to ideation and prototyping. In addition to the three main training programs (Accelerate, Discovery, and Intrapreneur's League), it will offer a variety of activities open to the general public, including themed conferences, pitch competitions, innovation challenges, job dating, open houses, and masterclasses on topics related to digitalization (artificial intelligence, mobility, etc.).

 

The inauguration of the YIRI innovation center marks an important milestone that will accelerate AGL's digital transformation and strengthen our position in the global logistics market. It will also be a space for co-creation between students, start-ups, and AGL employees, where innovative solutions tailored to the specific realities of our continent will emerge for the economic development of Africa

Asta Rosa Cissé, Regional Director of AGL Côte d'Ivoire-Burkina Faso

 

Through this technology lab, AGL is investing in creativity and encouraging the exploration of new ideas to contribute to the economic and digital development of the African continent, with a training program designed to inspire and support innovation. This center also reinforces AGL's commitment to empowering African youth.

 

We are currently living in an era of unprecedented digital revolution, closely linked to the rise of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, where technological advances represent extraordinary opportunities for our societies. The inauguration of the AGL innovation center will therefore provide an opportunity to popularize all the innovative technologies in the digital economy sector and enable startups and entrepreneurs to acquire the tools they need to develop and test their project ideas.

Ibrahim Kalil KonatéIvorian Minister of Digital Transition and Digitization

 

Following the inauguration of this center, AGL will launch a call for applications for “Accelerate” in a few days. This is YIRI's first open innovation program, designed to incubate and accelerate startups developing technological solutions in key sectors or sectors related to the AGL group (logistics, transport, digital, etc.).

 

About Africa Global Logistics (AGL)

AGL is Africa's leading multimodal logistics operator (port, logistics, maritime, and rail). The company is now part of the MSC Group, a leading maritime transport and logistics company. AGL provides its African and global customers with comprehensive, customized, and innovative logistics solutions, with the ambition of being “At the heart of Africa's transformation.” AGL is present in 50 countries in Africa, as well as in Haiti and Timor. Through its “YIRI” innovation center in Abidjan, AGL supports the digital transformation of logistics in Africa by stimulating innovation and offering young people, students, AGL employees, and start-ups a working environment conducive to creativity and the exploration of new ideas.

press contact

Arsène YAPI

Head of Media and Content Department – AGL (Ivory Coast-Burkina Faso)

arsene.yapi@aglgroup.com