Google to Support African SMEs

By ASV Client Relations

Google has launched a fund for supporting African SMEs. The fund will be managed by Californian-based NGO Kiva via African financial service providers.

Agnes Gathaiya, Google Eastern Africa Country Director announced that the loans would be disbursed with immediate effect.

Google has previously announced plans to invest USD 1 billion to support Africa’s digital transformation and allow for faster and more affordable internet access, and support entrepreneurship in Africa.

Google and Alphabet’s boss, Sundar Pichai said that while huge strides have been made in internet connectivity in Africa,  more work was needed to make the “internet accessible, affordable, and useful for every African”.

He continued to say that “Today I’m excited to reaffirm our commitment to the continent through an investment of USD 1 billion over five years to support Africa’s digital transformation to cover a range of initiatives from improved connectivity to investment in start-ups”.

In 2017, Google launched its Grow with Google initiative with a commitment to training 10 million young Africans and small businesses in digital skills

The tech firm has launched an online exhibition dedicated to the life and legacy of photo-journalist Mohamed Amin as part of Google Arts & Culture’s continued commitment to preserving and sharing Africa’s heritage.

The firm added that “The year-long digitisation project shines a light on four decades of the Kenyan photojournalist’s career and allows audiences to explore over 6,000 photographs and more than 50 stories representing a visual journey of the key moments, places, and people that he documented in the late 20th century”.

 

Contact us for further information on how to successfully tap into arrays of  viable Information & Communications Technology (ICT) trade and investment opportunities within the continent.

Email. info@africansv.com

Tel. +44 (0) 333 567 0779

Source: ASV & Capitalfm News – Kenya.