Google Cloud has projected that its Johannesburg Cloud Region could generate an additional 90.6 billion US dollars in economic output and support nearly 315,000 jobs by 2030, as the company unveiled a series of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives aimed at accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
The projections were announced on Wednesday by Google Cloud’s Vice President for the UK, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa, Maureen Costello, during the company’s inaugural Africa Cloud Summit in Johannesburg.
According to a statement, the summit attracted about 3,000 business leaders, developers, public sector officials and technology partners, where Google outlined five new AI initiatives focused on expanding digital infrastructure, fostering innovation, supporting startups and developing digital skills across the continent.
Costello said the latest programmes build on Google’s existing one billion US dollar investment commitment to Africa, as well as its recent investments in AI research, skills development and innovation.
As part of the expansion, Google announced plans to establish a Digital Exchange Port in South Africa’s Eastern Cape to strengthen internet resilience and international connectivity.
“The facility, the first of four planned African connectivity hubs, will connect the continent directly to Australia through the Umoja subsea cable and a new subsea route to India,” she said.
Google also launched Africa’s first Applied AI Lab in Accra, Ghana, which will provide African startup founders with access to Google researchers and early use of the company’s latest AI models.
According to Costello, the laboratory will support entrepreneurs developing AI-driven solutions to address African challenges across sectors including business, education, creativity and software development.
She noted that businesses across the continent had moved beyond experimenting with AI and were increasingly deploying practical, business-focused applications.
Costello further announced that applications for the 2026 South African Google for Startups Accelerator would open on 21 July.
The programme will admit 15 startups for AI-focused training, mentorship and equity-free funding as part of Google’s commitment to support 50 African startups by 2028.
To strengthen digital skills development, Google will partner with WeThinkCode to establish a three-million-rand digital innovation centre at South West Gauteng Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Soweto.
The company also pledged more than one million US dollars through Google.org to support The Akuna Group’s AI education programme for underrepresented African creators.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was quoted in the statement, said Africa was emerging as a strategic growth region for the global cloud ecosystem, driven by increased investment in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
Google’s Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, Technology and Society, James Manyika, said the latest investments reflected the company’s commitment to advancing African-led AI innovation.
According to Manyika, the initiatives will expand digital infrastructure, strengthen partnerships and equip African innovators with the tools needed to develop locally relevant AI solutions capable of addressing the continent’s unique challenges.
