Google has officially announced the launch of a product and development centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
Although it was the first of its kind on the continent, it had set up an AI and research centre in Ghana in 2019.
It is to help build transformational products and services for Africans and the world in the next four weeks.
In the next few months, Susan Frey, Google’s Vice president of the product, said Google is looking to hire about 100 tech talents.
The company is looking to hire as visionary engineers, product managers, UX designers and researchers.
This body of tech talents would be laying a significant foundation for coming years.
They would be solving difficult and technical challenges over the next two years.
According to Susan, problems like building more reliable internet infrastructure and improving people’s mobile experiences in the continent are things they would be looking to solve.
What Google in Africa’s managing director has said
Google in Africa managing director Nitin Gajria gives more light on the company’s thoughts.
“We have 300 million people on the internet in the region [Africa] today. We also know that in the course of the rest of this decade, we’re going to have another half a billion people who will experience internet for the very first time, which is why it is incredibly important that we build products and experiences that are helpful to these people that are going to be experiencing the internet just in Africa,”
Google’s plans for Africa in the next five years
Interestingly, Google has been trying to consistently join the market of tech giants building home in Africa.
Last year, the platform revealed in October that it would invest $1 billion over the next five years.
The investment would cover an enabling and fast internet connection, build helpful products, support entrepreneurs and small businesses and expand non-profits organisations across the African continent.
Its AI and research centre in Ghana plans to drive helpful innovation.
Google is on a mission to shape the next big innovations in the continent.
And it would be partnering with the governments, policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs and businesses in Africa.
ALSO READ: Microsoft Opens First African Development Centre In Nigeria
What other tech giants think about Africa
Google’s policy lead for Sub-Saharan Africa, Charles Murito, said, “Africa has been at the forefront of innovation, and we believe that we are going to continue to develop and innovate right here from the continent,”.
Big tech companies are starting to find a home in the African market.
About two weeks ago, Microsoft had a research and development centre in Kenya, Nairobi and Nigeria.
Also, Visa’s online payment platform has announced setting up its first innovation centre to cocreate payment and contribute to solutions through partnership.
Another is Twitter setting up in Ghana last year and others.
Other things to note
In 2020, Google launched a related platform called GoogleDevelopers in Lagos, Nigeria.
The platform was to help support developers in the continent and train about 100,00o developers across Africa.
Also, it is a platform where those already in the space can connect.
According to records, Google has achieved more than 50% of this.
So, therefore there is a possibility of Google’s plan for the Google Product And Development Centre turning out well.
Also, the company has called out those interested in contributing as talents to the new plans; they can visit this link.
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