Tech giant Google on Tuesday announced that it will build its first product development centre in Africa, in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi as it positions itself to serve a growing base of internet users on the continent.
The company had in 2018 announced a $1bn (£770m) investment plan for the growing number of internet users in Africa.
By the end of this decade, the continent will host 800 million internet users; a third of the world’s youth population, making it an attractive investment destination.
“According to Nitin Gajria, Managing Director for Google in Africa, Google is committed to accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through enabling human capital.”
Earlier this year, payments technology firm Visa and computer software giant Microsoft also opened innovation hubs in Nairobi. Microsoft is investing $100 million and hiring hundreds of engineers in Kenya and Nigeria.
Google has already opened an artificial intelligence centre in Accra, Ghana, focusing on innovations that can be applied to various challenges.
The centres will open job opportunities for software engineers, product managers, researchers and designers.
