Technology giant Microsoft Corporation has unveiled a new initiative geared towards Africa’s economic development and aimed at improving the continent's global competitiveness, the company said in a statement received by PANA here.
According to the company, the 'Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative' will focus on accelerating adoption of smart devices, empowering small and medium businesses, and up-leveling skills development to ignite African innovation for the continent and for the world.
By 2016, the new initiative 'plans to help place tens of millions of smart devices in the hands of African youth, bring 1 million African small and medium enterprises online, up-skill 100,000 members of Africa’s existing workforce, and help an additional 100,000 recent graduates develop skills for employability, 75 percent of which Microsoft will help place in jobs'.
“The world has recognised the promise of Africa, and Microsoft wants to invest in that promise,' the statement quoted Fernando de Sousa, General Manager of the new initiative, to have said on Tuesday.
'We want to empower African youth, entrepreneurs, developers and business and civic leaders to turn great ideas into a reality that can help their community, their country, the continent, and beyond,” he added.
The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative is said to be built on the dual beliefs that technology can accelerate growth for Africa, and Africa can also accelerate technology for the world.
Pana 06/02/2013