Bukele and Google announce deal: Big Tech plans to open operations in El Salvador

On Tuesday, Google Cloud announced an agreement with the Government of El Salvador to establish offices and provide Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) services in the country. The intention is to turn the nation into a "technological hub in Central America" as well as modernize government services and improve both health care and education.

The tech giant's statement said the partnership, still pending legislative approval, would be for seven years and would help establish cloud technologies and teach how to make the most of their benefits.

"Access to cloud computing has dramatically expanded across industries and regions throughout the world, enabling both small companies and the public sector to utilize the very same applications and services as more mature markets. Cloud computing can truly transform Latin America, and we look forward to exploring the full potential of those possibilities in El Salvador, benefiting its citizens and boosting economic development," said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud.

Plans to modernize the government

With a portfolio of hardware and software solutions from GDC, Google raises the possibility of digitizing government processes and projects, including electronic billing, permits and other options. This agreement would make El Salvador the first country in Latin America to benefit from this technology.

Medical care

The tech giant also hopes that its artificial intelligence services can improve health by improving processes and giving doctors access to real-time information.

Education

Google proposes to implement a unified platform that allows it to access administrators, educators and parents to receive "timely, efficient and consistent" information.

"El Salvador is moving forward. We believe technology and foreign investment are key for development. We are quickly becoming a hub for innovation. This groundbreaking alliance with Google Cloud opens unprecedented avenues for innovation, economic growth, and enhanced public services. Google's global expertise combined with El Salvador's audacity is set to redefine the technological landscape," said President Nayib Bukele.