Google Cloud has projected that its Johannesburg Cloud Region will contribute an estimated $90.6 billion to Africa’s economy and support nearly 315,000 jobs by 2030 as the tech giant unveiled a new wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives to accelerate digital transformation across the continent.
The announcement was made 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, which attracted about 3,000 business executives, developers, government officials and technology partners.
According to Costello, the economic forecast accompanies the launch of five major AI-driven initiatives focused on expanding digital infrastructure, fostering innovation, supporting startups and equipping Africans with critical digital skills.
She said the initiatives build on Google’s existing $1 billion investment commitment to Africa, alongside recent investments in AI research, innovation and workforce development.
As part of the expansion, Google announced plans to establish a Digital Exchange Port in South Africa’s Eastern Cape to improve internet resilience and strengthen international connectivity.
The facility, the first of four planned connectivity hubs across Africa, will link the continent directly to Australia through the Umoja subsea cable while also providing a new subsea connection to India.
Costello also announced the launch of Africa’s first Applied AI Lab in Accra, Ghana, where African startup founders will collaborate with Google researchers and gain early access to the company’s latest AI technologies.
She said the lab would help entrepreneurs develop AI-powered solutions tailored to uniquely African challenges in sectors including education, business, software development and the creative industry.
Highlighting the continent’s growing AI ecosystem, Costello noted that African businesses have moved beyond experimenting with artificial intelligence and are now deploying practical, real-world AI solutions.
She further disclosed that applications for the 2026 South African Google for Startups Accelerator will open on July 21, with 15 startups to be selected for AI-focused training, mentorship and equity-free funding.
The program forms part of Google’s broader goal of supporting 50 African startups by 2028.
To strengthen digital skills development, Google will partner with WeThinkCode to establish a three-million-rand Digital Innovation Center at South West Gauteng TVET College in Soweto.
In addition, Google.org will commit more than $1 million to support The Akuna Group’s AI education program, which aims to empower underrepresented African creators with AI skills.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was quoted in the statement, said Africa is emerging as a strategic growth hub for the global cloud industry, driven by increasing investments in AI and digital infrastructure.
Google’s Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, Technology and Society, James Manyika, said the latest investments underscore the company’s long-term commitment to advancing African-led AI innovation.
According to him, the initiatives will expand digital infrastructure, deepen strategic partnerships and empower African innovators to develop AI solutions that address local needs while driving economic growth across the continent.
