GE recently opened its R500M Africa Innovation Centre in Johannesburg South Africa. The centre will be GE's centre of excellence for innovation and technology transfer in Africa. It is the first for GE in Africa and the 10th GE innovation Centre globally. This additional investment follows GE's global acquisition of Alstom which further positions GE as a strategic and value adding partner to South AFrica.GE opened its first overseas office outside of the USA in Johannesburg in 1898. GE is widely respected as a responsible corporate citizen with a strong commitment to contributing to South Africa's sustainable development especially in skills and small medium enterprise development. In 2014 the South African government recognised GE's efforts and awarded the company inaugural South Africa Siyabonga Business Award.