Google will invest US$ 1.2 billion in Latin America and offer 1 million scholarships

Google announced this Thursday (9) that it will invest US$ 1.2 billion (R$ 5.8 billion) in Latin America over the next five years. Resources will be divided into four areas: digital infrastructure, digital skills training, entrepreneurship and inclusive communities.

The announcement was made by the company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, during the ninth edition of the Summit of the Americas, held this week in Los Angeles, in the United States. The idea is to boost post-pandemic economic recovery and foster development in the region through digital transformation.

“Digital transformation can bring many benefits to Latin America, a region hard hit by the pandemic. Reducing digital inequality is critical for an inclusive recovery,” said Pichai.

The company announced five goals for the region for the coming years. The launch of the Firmina submarine cable, in 2023, will establish communication between servers in North and South America, aiming to improve the quality of the company’s cloud services.

Google also wants to increase the engineering team in Brazil, focusing on areas such as privacy and security. The company also plans to offer 1 million scholarships for Career Certificates, courses for professions with high market demand throughout Latin America.

In the coming months, Google Wallet will also be launched in the country, an application that gathers payment data, personal documents and even public transport passes. The tool was launched in May in the United States.

Also new is that the company’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, will offer US$ 300 million (R$ 1.4 billion) to non-profit organizations focused on sustainability and creating opportunities for young people, women and underprivileged groups. represented. Of that amount, $50 million will be in cash and $250 million in advertising credits.