Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Google’s 2024 Economic Impact Report estimates $8.3 billion in Saudi Arabia’s digital economy from its products and services. With broad adoption of AI tools like Gemini and strong developer growth, Google is fueling digital skills, job creation, and economic diversification aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Google will transition payments for services like AdSense and YouTube AdSense in Egypt from USD to EGP starting May 1, 2025. This move aims to support local content creators and aligns with efforts in other countries. Users will need to link bank accounts for local currency transactions and access their payment history.
Google has launched a major initiative to produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan, with the first device presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The initiative supports the government’s focus on IT growth, aiming for $25 billion in IT exports while promoting digital transformation and empowering the younger generation.
Google’s Director for Pakistan, Farhan S Qureshi, highlighted the growth potential of Pakistan’s app and gaming sector at Think Apps 2024 in Lahore. The event focused on equipping developers with AI tools to drive innovation. Pakistani studios are leading the field, contributing to the country’s potential $6.6 billion digital export revenue by 2030.
CNTXT has expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to launch Sovereign Controls by CNTXT, a cybersecurity solution in Saudi Arabia. The offering provides managed External Key Management (EKM) with Key Access Justifications (KAJ), enabling organizations to securely move sensitive workloads to the cloud while maintaining strict data sovereignty and regulatory compliance.
Google, in collaboration with Tech Valley, has launched ‘Digital Sahafat,’ a program under the Google News Initiative (GNI) to enhance digital journalism skills in Pakistan. The initiative aims to train 1,000 journalists, providing tools and resources to improve digital storytelling, and underscores Google’s commitment to supporting journalism globally.
Google for Startups has launched the ‘AI Academy’ in Pakistan to foster Artificial Intelligence development across Asia-Pacific. This initiative, part of the Google Chromebook project, aims to establish Pakistan as a key AI hub through innovative partnerships and educational programs, including providing 1,000 scholarships to university students.
Google for Startups has launched the AI Academy to support and accelerate AI startups in Pakistan and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The program offers tailored mentorship from AI experts, up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, and opportunities for cross-border collaboration, aiming to strengthen the AI ecosystem in APAC.
Ooredoo and Qatar Airways have partnered with Google Cloud for a large-scale cloud adoption initiative to enhance customer experiences and sustainability. This collaboration involves creating a hybrid multi-cloud environment, leveraging Google Cloud’s AI capabilities and ensuring high security and local data compliance.
Google Cloud has opened new offices in Kuwait, licensed by KDIPA, to support the country’s digital transformation and economic development. The expansion aligns with Kuwait’s National Vision 2035, focusing on modernization, smart economy, and infrastructure, and aims to enhance government services, cybersecurity, and economic growth through advanced digital technologies.