Bangkok, Thailand – 05/01/2024: Satya Nadella, CEO and CEO of Microsoft Corporation speaks during the “Microsoft Build: AI Day” event at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Satya Nadella announced that Microsoft plans to invest in its first data center, Cloud First, in Thailand. (Photo by Perabun Bunyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on Wednesday announced “significant commitments” to build a new regional data center in Thailand, among other initiatives, as the US technology giant doubles its efforts in Southeast Asia.
The company said it would also commit to training AI skills for more than 100,000 people and supporting local developers, but did not disclose the investment amount.
The previous day, Nadella said the company would invest $1.7 billion in Indonesia over the next four years to build new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
“Thailand has an amazing opportunity to build a digital future powered by artificial intelligence,” Nadella said at a press conference. statement on Wednesday, adding that the investments will help drive impact and growth in Thailand's public and private sectors.
Microsoft said there is growing demand for cloud computing services in Thailand from its companies, and the commitments will allow the country to capitalize on economic and productivity opportunities arising from artificial intelligence.
“Today’s announcement with Microsoft is a major milestone in our ‘Ignite Thailand’ journey – a vision that promises new opportunities for growth, innovation and prosperity for all Thais,” Thai Prime Minister Sritha Thavisin said in the press release.
Microsoft is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia, announcing plans to establish new regional data centers in Malaysia And Indonesia in 2021. It currently houses a Southeast Asia data center in Singapore.
The AI boom has increased demand for cloud computing services and data centers, as large amounts of data are needed to train AI models and the cloud provides access to huge data sets. Data centers are facilities where data is located.
Microsoft on Tuesday It also revealed broader plans to provide AI skills opportunities to 2.5 million people in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – which includes Thailand and Indonesia – by 2025.
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