THE INTERNET

Good news for African marketers as Google invests in local R&D

By our News Team | 2022

Establishment of a new product-development centre in Kenya recognises immense potential of the continent’s growing mobile-first youth segment.

In what will be good news for Africa’s digital marketers, e-commerce and supply chain practitioners, Google has announced that it is establishing a product-development centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

The aim of this new venture on the continent is to create what the tech giant calls “transformative” products and services for the African market and the world. Google’s Nairobi investment complements the artificial intelligence (AI) and research hub it established in Ghana in 2019.

Speaking at the virtual launch event earlier this week, Nitin Gajria, Managing Director for Google in Africa. said: “There are 300-million internet users in Africa who are young, mobile-first and have similar patterns to mobile youth globally. By 2030, Africa will have 800-million internet users and a third of the world’s under-35 population.

Photo by Alex Dudar on Unsplash

“The potential for Africa to become a leading digital economy is right on the horizon and Google is committed to accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through human capital and enabling African-led solutions to African and global problems through better products.”

Mission to make the internet helpful to Africans

Added Suzanne Frey, the company’s Vice President for Products: “Google’s mission in Africa is to make the Internet helpful to Africans and partner with African governments, policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs and businesses to shape the next wave of innovation in Africa.”

Last year, Google executive Sundar Pichai, announced a plan to invest US$1-billion over five years to support Africa’s digital transformation.

According to the Kenyan-based news outlet Nation, Google joins a growing list of tech giants setting up innovation hubs in Nairobi.

“Two weeks ago, shortly after Microsoft launched a research and development centre in Nairobi, Visa announced it had set up its first innovation hub to co-create payment and commerce solutions with partners,” Nation reported.

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