Microsoft Will Invest $2.2 Billion To Support Malaysia’s Cloud And AI Transformation
Tech giant Microsoft has announced that they will be investing $2.2 billion (RM10.5 billion) to support Malaysia’s digitalisation endeavours, namely a new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The investment will be Microsoft’s single largest investment in Malaysia, and it is part of a larger effort to bolster support for AI development in the South East Asian region.
Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella announced the upcoming investment during his visit to Malaysia at the Microsoft Build AI Day event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
According to news reports, he stated that Microsoft’s investment in digital infrastructure and skilling will help Malaysian businesses, communities and developers by allowing them to utilize the latest technology.
Along with the infrastructure investment, Microsoft also pledged to provide AI training for 2.5 million people in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam by 2025.
During his visit to Malaysia, Nadella also met and spoke with Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar stated that the investment will be the key support pillar for realising the government’s goal of enhancing AI capacity in Malaysia.
Microsoft investment will include AI training for 300,000 Malaysians
The investment will include AI training for another 300,000 people, the establishment of a national AI center of excellence, enhancing the nation’s cybersecurity capabilities and supporting the growth of Malaysia’s developer community, said Anwar in his Facebook page.
Microsoft’s investment in Malaysia is part of their larger effort to develop and support the AI and cloud capabilities in the region, as evidenced by their previous investments.
Previously, Microsoft has already invested $1.7 billion in Indonesia, and announced the first regional data center in Thailand.
This supports the view that Microsoft views South East Asia as a growing market and potential location for more AI product development.
A study held by global consulting firm Kearney said AI could contribute nearly $1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2030.
