Google claims to have reached its investment goal in Africa: one billion dollars over five years, or approximately 871 million euros. The company is focusing in particular on submarine cables and vocational training programs. Alex Okosi, its managing director for the continent, sees this as a contribution to local development.
Investments in infrastructure
Google announced in July that it had reached its five-year investment goal in Africa. The company also laid a submarine cable linking West Africa to Portugal and is installing another one intended to connect Africa to Australia via India.
These projects are part of a rise in investment by major technology companies on the continent, after a long period during which they had relatively little targeted it, according to information reported by Courrier international.
Training as another lever
During a recent trip to Nairobi, Alex Okosi heard the testimony of a participant in a Google logistics certification program. According to the executive, the woman explained that she had taken the program after experiencing difficulties finding employment during the Covid-19 pandemic, and subsequently landing a job with a multinational corporation.
Okosi cites this experience as an example of how Google can contribute to Africa’s development. However, the account relies on the testimony he reports: the available information does not specify the participant’s name or the details of the training.
A broader movement
The source also mentions Meta and a consortium including Orange and Vodafone, but the section devoted to these companies is incomplete. Therefore, no further details about their projects or investments can be established from the available information.
The information presented focuses primarily on Google’s commitments: a five-year financial target achieved, connectivity infrastructure being deployed, and professional training programs. These alone are insufficient to fully understand the impact of these initiatives on employment or digital access across the continent.
Source: Courrier international – News from France and around the world, videos, infographics (www.courrierinternational.com)
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