2020 is going to be an important year for Amazon Web Services (AWS) in South Africa. While we await the official availability of the firm’s local data centres in the country, AWS has achieved a significant status that black-owned South African businesses will be interested in.
To that end AWS recently confirmed that it has achieved level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status.
The firm also touts the fact that it achieved maximum points for enterprise development, supplier development, and ownership elements on the B-BBEE scorecard, upon first verification.
AWS’ Equity Equivalent Investment Program (AWS EEIP), as well as its skills development initiatives such as AWS Academy and AWS Educate, also helped contribute to the acquisition of the new status.
Consequently the firm is looking to engage with more black-owned businesses in the region.
“We are thrilled to attain a B-BBEE Level 1 status. This is a continuation of our commitment to support the transformation and economic development of South Africa,” enthused said Prabashni Naidoo, director at AWS South Africa.
“Our Enterprise and Supplier Development programs will enable small businesses to flourish. As these businesses grow, AWS cloud services will help transform their operations and allow them to compete on a global scale. In addition, our skills development programs will help grow the next generation of highly skilled South African developers and engineers,” she added.
Amazon Web Services is now calling for all qualifying 100 percent black-owned Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) within the ICT sector to apply to be part of AWS EEIP.
“The AWS EEIP was announced in 2019 and will see over R365 million invested over a seven-year period in the development and growth of black-owned small businesses in South Africa,” the firm noted.
“Successful applicants will undergo an 18 – 24 month enterprise development and incubation program where they will receive technical training and support from AWS ZA and will result in AWS EEIP members becoming AWS Certified Developers and Solutions Architects,” it continued.
Upon completion of the program, the businesses involved will have access to the Amazon Web Services ecosystem of customers, with applications for EEIP closing on 10th April 2020.
