Google launches a program to accelerate the pace of economic recovery...

Announced Google Inc. About the launch of the new “Go Strong with Google” program, which aims to stimulate the economy in the MENA region through digital transformation. The program provides a set of tools and training courses to support businesses and job seekers. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this program will focus on supporting commercial activities operating in the areas of retail trade, tourism, and entrepreneurship.

Commenting on the move, Lino Cataruzzi, Google’s General Manager in the Middle East and North Africa, said: “Digital tools have become a way of saving many people during the crisis. Digital opportunities can support people, businesses, and communities in Saudi Arabia and the region to make a stronger comeback. Through the “Go Strong with Google” program, we will help people acquire new skills, find jobs, and enhance the presence of commercial activities on the Internet, especially those working in the areas of retail and tourism, because they are most affected by the crisis. We are optimistic about the future of the region, and we have great confidence that our cooperation with local partners will accelerate the pace of economic recovery by taking advantage of digital transformation. ”

Google says its program will provide digital skills training and cloud services, business mentorship, and business digitization training.

The Google “Go Strong With Google” program in Saudi Arabia includes the following:

• Digital and cloud skills training

  • In partnership with local authorities such as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (The Digital Giving Initiative), the Ministry of Tourism, and Wadi Makkah, Google will provide digital marketing training for more than 50,000 students and business activities in the Kingdom.
  • Google will host a digital training for Saudi technology companies on cloud computing.
  • Training 140,000 software developers in the kingdom, with a focus on women, in advanced and applied digital skills such as machine learning.

• Guiding and directing business activities

  • The launch of the “Google for Startups Accelerator” program to support local entrepreneurs. The first group will include up to 15 startups from the region to participate in a 3-month program that provides mentorship, guidance and assistance from expert advisors.
  • $ 1.1 million in grants from Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, to Mercy Corps, the Arab Tourism Organization, and Youth Business International to direct business activities and entrepreneurs across the region.

• Digitization of local business activities in Saudi Arabia

  • Listing 100,000 local businesses in Saudi Arabia on “My Business on Google” and providing the owners of these businesses with digital skills, in partnership with Saudi Post within 18 months.
  • release Market Finder ، It is a Google product that helps local businesses to identify new markets and acquire global customers.
  • Giving all retailers in Saudi Arabia, whether they are advertisers on Google or not, the right to access the Google Shopping tab to list their products at no cost, which helps them communicate with more customers.

Google, through its regional program, is committed to helping more than a million people and businesses in the MENA region learn digital skills and grow their businesses by the end of 2021. It says it will provide Google.org grants and loans worth $ 4 million, in addition to More than $ 9 million in grants and advertising credits for governments and businesses.

In 2018, Google launched the “Skills from Google” program, a training program on digital skills for Arabic speakers, which has benefited one million people so far in the Arab world.

It is reported that Arab Monetary FundHe indicated that there are about 6 million jobs at risk in the Arab world, and it was found that the most in-demand jobs in Saudi Arabia and the region as a whole require applied digital skills.

You can learn more about the new Google program by going to the link: grow.google/intl/mena.