Google has announced plans to invest $2 billion in Malaysia, building its first data center and a Google Cloud hub in the country. This move marks a significant expansion by a U.S. tech giant in Southeast Asia.
The decision comes on the heels of Microsoft’s commitment to inject $2.2 billion into Malaysia over the next four years for the development of new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised Google’s investment as a vote of confidence in the country’s governance and economy. He stated that the investment is projected to contribute $3.2 billion to the economy and generate 26,500 job opportunities by 2030.
This development is a significant victory for Anwar as he aims to solidify his position against a formidable Islamic opposition.
According to Google, the new facilities will be established at a business park in Selangor state, central Malaysia. The expansion aims to meet the increasing demand for cloud services and provide educational programs in artificial intelligence for Malaysian students and educators.
Malaysia will become the 12th country to host a Google data center. The Google Cloud hub in Malaysia will cater to large enterprises, startups, and the public sector, joining the 40 regions and 121 zones currently operational worldwide.
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet Inc., parent company of Google, highlighted that this investment aligns with Malaysia’s ‘Cloud First Policy’ and includes top-notch cybersecurity standards.
Anwar engaged with Porat and other business leaders during visits to the U.S. last year.
