Google aims to bring benefits of digital economy to Telangana youth, women

Google on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Telangana government to bring benefits of digital economy to youth and women entrepreneurs, and also kicked off the ground-up development of its three million square foot building in the city.

The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao.

Under the new initiative, Google will collaborate with the government through its various arms to extend scholarships for Google Career Certificates to Telangana's youth, support women entrepreneurs through digital, business and financial skills training, and strengthen the government's school modernisation efforts with digital teaching and learning tools and solutions, a Google release said.

As part of the joint effort, Google will also support the Telangana government's efforts to improve public transportation and use of digital technologies in agriculture.

Underlining "its commitment to investing and expanding its presence in Telangana", Google also unveiled the design of its ground-up development at the 7.3-acre site it acquired at Gachibowli in the city in 2019.

The three million sq ft building prioritises sustainability and energy efficiency throughout its design, it said.

Rama Rao unveiled the building design at a ceremony held onsite, it said.

Speaking after the MoU was exchanged, Rama Rao said Telangana and Google have enjoyed a long and a very fruitful relationship with each other.

"You always had one of your largest presences in the world. You have continued to support us, our growth, the technology and IT sector. Google being Google, the leader, I think that has really helped the image of the city and the image of the my state Telangana as well," he said.

"Today, I am very pleased to share that Google is deepening its Hyderabad connection and its roots in Hyderabad through new 7.3 acre campus in Gachibowli. We have just unveiled the design for the new building. We have done the ceremonial concrete pouring as well," he said.

Rama Rao said, through the new MoU, making a step-change in communities such as youth, women, and students and in citizen services is being focused upon.

Hyderabad has been home to one of our largest employee bases since we started our operations in India, Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and Vice President, Google India, said.

"Over the years, we have partnered with the Telangana government to bring the benefits of Google's technologies and programs to serve the needs of people in the state," he said.

"Today, we are pleased to strengthen our association to support and accelerate the efforts of the Telangana government to help youth learn the right skills for employment, support women entrepreneurs with digital skills, and modernize schools for children," he said.