Google set to host G-South Africa 2.0

Google has announced that it will be holding its second large-scale web conference in South Africa. The event, called “G-South Africa” aims to provide “training on web and mobile tools to spur innovation, business growth and local internet economy”.

The internet giant claims the event will see “Over 800 business people, marketers, entrepreneurs, engineers, and web developers, together with over 30 Google experts from around the globe,” gather to “discuss the future of online business and web application development, and receive training on Google’s products”.

Google says the G-South Africa represents its “commitment to driving the web forward in South Africa and across the continent and highlighting the business opportunities presented by the internet”.

Google claims that it will give businesses “the opportunity to explore the huge benefits of cloud computing”. Additionally, it says, it will teach businesses how to “integrate internet-based tool to run their businesses”.

This, the company says, “will help businesses develop a digital strategy to boost growth by improving and monetising their online presence, growing their customer base and tracking their performance”.

Aside for the business track, there will be a dedicated series of sessions that are aimed at helping “publishers and content owners promote and monetise content online”.

This series will reportedly include a YouTube partnering session, focusing on the South African YouTube success stories, who are now earning from their YouTube channels.

Included in these are the likes of Six Pack Factory and local viral video sensation Buck Norris.

There will also be a dedicated tech section, focusing on a number of Google products.

Attendees will reportedly have the chance to explore Google’s open source technologies “through a combination of tech talks, breakout sessions and codelabs run by engineers from across the globe”.

It seems that Google is also determined to ensure that the media are more than just observers at the event, with conference organisers including “workshops for journalists and news portal webmasters about useful tools for journalism” in the event programme.

Among the key speakers at the event are Nelson Mattos, Vice President for Engineering and Product, Europe Middle East and Africa, and Luke Mckend, Country Manager for Google South Africa.

According to Mckend Google has been “working hard to get more people online, make the Internet part of everyday life in South Africa and show how the Internet can boost the country’s economy, even during prevailing global economic uncertainty”.

Google has been holding interactive forums and tech days across the Africa since 2009 with G-South Africa being the latest in its drive to “promote innovation and business on the continent”.