Google: Cloud region in Greece to add more than 2 bln€ to local GDP by 2030

The announcement by Alphabet Inc.’s Google to establish its first cloud region in Greece is forecast to boost the local economy by nearly 2.2 billion USD and create more than 19,400 jobs by 2030, according to Adaire Fox-Martin, president of Google Cloud International.

Fox-Martin spoke in Athens on Thursday during a high-profile presentation along with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose government has not secured investments by a trio of the world’s IT and online giants, i.e. Microsoft, Amazon and now Google.

According to a Reuters dispatch from Athens the same day, since taking office in 2019, Mitsotakis’ conservative government has “stepped up moves to diversify the economy and attract foreign investment and high-tech companies to the country which emerged from a decade-long financial crisis in 2018.”

“Today, we are very pleased to be announcing our first cloud region in Greece which will provide storage and cloud services for Google customers,” the Google executive said, in announcing the investment.

She added that the investment would enable businesses and organizations to better exploit their data, improve low latency and ensure users’ security in the face of cybersecurity threats.

A cloud region usually is based around a cluster of data centers.

Additionally, Google, in cooperation with Deloitte, announced that it was creating two centers for AI and sustainable growth in Thessaloniki and Patras.

Google also announced a partnership with Greece’s culture and sports ministry via the Google Arts & Culture platform, allowing for Greek civilization to become even more accessible to the global community.