Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country will have access to a free website and online profile creation services from Google in a move designed to increase their visibility to potential customers.
According to Google Kenya and East African countries Director, Agnes Gathaiya, the firm has established an SME hub known as “Google My Business” where SMEs will be helped at zero cost to create their profiles and websites.
The program budded ‘Rising Together’ will see Google support SMEs, boost women-led businesses, and facilitate online learning for schools at all levels.
“ They will be visible across the globe enabling shoppers to find them as well as linking them to customers looking for their products,” Gathaiya said while launching the Sh325 million program.
She further stated that the service will have a market finger facility that enables linkages between SMEs and customers from anywhere around the world.
The SME hub will give businesses real-time information necessary for them to execute cross-border (regional) trades that will help them support export products worldwide.
“Logistics, taxes as well as market networks are key in today’s business environment. The SMEs, who have also been suffering from disrupted supply chains due to the Covid-19 pandemic can now also search with ease for genuine suppliers of raw materials,” she said.
The IT firm also announced the launch of an Sh125 million grant to 500 women through a partnership with GiveDirectly, a non-governmental relief agency where there will be an Sh6,500 stipend for six months for every beneficiary culminating in an Sh125,000 non-refundable grant to support businesses.
