Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently concluded a visit to Southeast Asia, committing billions to enhance the region's cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. His tour, which included stops in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, aligns with Microsoft's strategy to capitalize on Southeast Asia's booming digital economy, projected to reach $300 billion by 2025. This region's youthful demographic is seen as key to supporting Microsoft's expansion.
Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, recently wrapped a visit to Southeast Asia where he committed to investing billions. His mission on this trip was to advance his company's strategic focus of expanding its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in the region.
He visited Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Ndaella's tour of Southeast Asia is notable given the other recent high-profile visits fom Nvidia's CEO and Apple's CEO.
Southeast Asia is critical for Microsoft's growth plans in part because it has a rapidly growing digital economy expected to triple by 2025, reaching $300 billion, according to a report by Google, Temasek Holdings, and Bain.
The region has a large and youthful population that is eager to work learn the necessary skills and apply them to assist Microsoft expand its business.
The largest sum will go to Malaysia where the company plans to invest $2.2 billion in developing cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The commitment is the largest investment by Microsoft into Malaysia ever. The proceeds will go towards constructing a national AI Center of Excellence and providing funding to train 200,000 people.
Indonesia secured $1.7 billion also for cloud and AI infrastructure purposes. And Thailand a data center to be the first Azure data center in the country. Thailand's FDI has dipped for reasons not fully understood and seems to be losing a competitive advantage in the region it has enjoyed for some time.
The eagerness to embrace AI by Thailand's PM is evident. “Thailand is ready for AI,” Srettha said ahead of a meeting with Nadella. “The government will fully support the growth of the AI industry in this country.”
Apart from investment and growing economic ties, the visits should also be viewed in the context of the ongoing decoupling between China and the United States. By engaging with Southeast Asian partners, Microsoft is working to diversify its supply chain in the region and be less impacted by any sudden shifts in relations between the already adversarial relations of the top two economies.
