Google signs Memorandum of Understanding with Government

Google Cloud, a subsidiary of the tech giant Google, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government to establish a Centre of Excellence in digital transformation and innovation.

The entrance of Google into the Zambian market for Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) is a significant milestone for the country’s progress in technological innovation.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU in Lusaka on 19 June, the minister for technology and science, Felix Mutati attributed the investment of Google in Zambia to the incentives given to the private sector by the government.

He revealed that in the last year, the private sector has laid down 5,000km of fibre optic in the country, bringing the total to 25,000km of fibre optic laid in total.

The Google Director for Global Strategic Initiatives said that the company was connecting Zambia to UMOJA – a fibre optic project which will run from Kenya through South Africa through to Australia.

The signing of the MoU symbolises the greater platform given to Zambia to increase its digital transformation, and signal the country’s embrace of Artificial Intelligence in order to enhance operations within both the public and private sector.