Google has launched its first product development centre in Africa and has started hiring aspiring engineering managers, product managers, software engineers, senior UX designers or UX researchers to lay the foundation for significant growth in the coming years.

The Nairobi-based new product development centre will help to create transformative products and services for people in Africa and around the world as part of Google’s support for Africa’s digital transformation.

This forms part of Google’s plan to invest $1-billion over the next five years into projects that will provide fast, reliable and affordable Internet access across the continent, build helpful local products and support the entrepreneurs and small businesses that underpin the continent’s economies.

In 2018, Google opened an artificial intelligence research centre in Accra, Ghana, to help drive useful innovations.

The new product development centre is a continuation of that commitment, says Google in Africa MD Nitin Gajria.

Currently, there are 300-million Internet users in Africa who are young.

By 2030, Africa will have 800-million Internet users and account for a third of the world’s under-35 population.

“The potential for Africa to become a leading digital economy is right on the horizon and Google is committed to accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through human capital and enabling ‘African-led solutions to African and global problems’ through better products,” says Gajria.

“Google’s mission in Africa is to make the Internet helpful to Africans and partner with African governments, policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs and business to shape the next wave of innovation in Africa,” adds Google Products VP Suzanne Frey.

“I am excited to welcome all Africans passionate about improving the digital experience of African users by building better products to apply for the open roles at our first product development centre in Africa,” she continues.

The centre is seeking talented, creative people who can help solve difficult and important technical challenges, such as improving the smartphone experience for people in Africa, or building a more reliable Internet infrastructure.