South Africa joins Google Cloud’s global network with a R2.5 billion investment. This initiative aims to enhance local access to cloud services, potentially contributing $2.1 billion to the economy and creating over 40,000 jobs by 2030. Google also offers training programs and supports African startups, reinforcing its commitment to advancing the continent’s tech sector.
South Africa has announced its inclusion in Google’s global cloud network, marked by a significant investment of R2.5 billion. This undertaking, the first of its kind in Africa, integrates South Africa into Google Cloud’s extensive framework comprising 40 regions and 121 zones worldwide, which assist in delivering cloud services to over 200 countries and territories.
The co-founder of Tregter, Ferdinand Steenkamp, expressed the potential economic impact, noting that enhancing local access to Google Cloud services could contribute approximately $2.1 billion to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and facilitate the creation of over 40,000 jobs by the year 2030. He highlighted that with the internet economy in Africa projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, Google South Africa’s cloud services would position the nation at the forefront of the continent’s technological advancements.
In conjunction with the new infrastructure, Google South Africa has initiated training programs such as Cloud OnBoard, Cloud Hero, and Google Hustle Academy. These programs focus on essential technology topics, including generative AI, machine learning, application modernization, data analytics, and digital marketing, catering to both learners and business owners.
The launch of Google Cloud is also expected to bolster existing initiatives by Google, such as the Black Founders Fund Africa and Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, which have positively impacted 106 startups across 17 African nations. These startups have collectively secured over $263 million in funding, generating upwards of 2,800 direct jobs.
Steenkamp concluded that Google’s presence in South Africa will contribute to levelling the playing field for tech entrepreneurs across the continent, yielding significant benefits beyond the tech industry and fostering broader growth within Africa’s technological sector.
In summary, South Africa’s integration into Google’s cloud network signifies a major step forward in enhancing local technological infrastructure. This development is set to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and improve training opportunities for learners and business owners. Furthermore, the initiative strengthens Google’s support for African startups, promoting a more equitable environment for tech entrepreneurs and fostering the continent’s economic advancement.
Original Source: www.bizcommunity.com
