Google Cloud and Kuwait forge strategic alliance

The Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority declared on Wednesday specializing three sites to build data centers of mega space for Google Cloud Kuwait company.

Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Communication Affairs Fahad Al-Shu’la said in a news conference marking the occasion that digital transformation has become a tangible and inevitable reality particularly during the coronavirus crisis.

Affirming that achieving objectives of Kuwait Vision 2023 is certain, the minister emphasized the government resolve to build effective and fruitful partnerships with international and local technological corporates, companies, start-ups and innovative business pioneers. For his part, Dr. Ammar Al-Husseini, the acting director general of the Information Technology Center, said the strategic alliance with Google would lead to significant benefits for the Kuwaiti economy, in addition to fruits to be reaped at the security, human and technological levels.

During Google Cloud’s media roundtable on Wednesday, the company said a national training program will be launched to train 3,000 people from government organizations and higher education institutions in Kuwait on cloud computing. The program aims to train 1,000 government employees, 1,000 fresh graduates and 1,000 women in data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and security solutions in the first year of its inception.

Earlier on Wednesday, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received visiting Vice President of Google Cloud Vinton G Cerf and his accompanying delegation at Bayan Palace. Welcoming the guests, HH the Crown Prince underlined Kuwait’s efforts towards digital and technological transformation as being a core pillar of carrying out its national vision, launching development projects based on sophisticated technology, developing national skills in line with the best practices of specialized international companies and creating promising job opportunities.

Cerf voiced thanks to Kuwait’s leadership and government for trusting his company’s technological services, while looking forward to a constructive partnership by offering the company’s expertise in digital transformation and technology use. Cerf vowed Google Cloud would spare no effort to develop this field in Kuwait.

The media roundtable was held in the presence of Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Communications Affairs Fahad Al-Shula, Deputy Director General of Central Agency for Information Technology Dr Ammar Al-Husaini, Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority Board Member Mohammad Al-Rashid, Managing Director, Public Sector, Google Cloud EMEA Ellen Van Essen, Managing Director MENA, Google Cloud Tarek Khalil and Business Development Director EMEA, Public Sector Cloud Ellie Tabchouri.