KUALA LUMPUR – Microsoft will invest US$2.2 billion (about RM10.5 billion) in cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, a move that will boost the skills of 300,000 Malaysians, it was announced today.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry said this would upskill local workers and accelerate the country’s digital transformation journey.
The investment was announced by Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella this morning at the National AI Leadership Forum.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met Nadella, who is also Microsoft chairman, in Putrajaya this morning, where the latter informed him that the investments would be made over the next four years.
“This amount of investment is the largest by Microsoft since it established its office here for 32 years. The investment will cover the development of cloud systems and infrastructure as well as AI development, creating opportunities for expertise in these fields for 300,000 people,” Anwar said in a statement after the meeting.
The investment will also see the building of a national centre of excellence in AI, improvements to national cyber security and support for systems developers in Malaysia.
Anwar said Malaysia welcomed Microsoft’s investment decision, citing it as proof of the country’s strong economic fundamentals, political stability and investor-friendly approach.
The prime minister and Satya are also attending the National AI Leadership Forum today. – May 2, 2024