BANGKOK (Reuters) – Microsoft will open its first regional data center in Thailand, the tech giant said on Wednesday, as it seeks to increase the availability of cloud services.
The news comes a day after CEO Satya Nadella announced a $1.7 billion investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud facilities in neighboring Indonesia.
“The data center region will expand the availability of Microsoft’s hyperscale cloud services,” the company said in a statement.
“This means you not only have all the capabilities of Azure in Thailand, but also the best world-class artificial intelligence infrastructure,” Nadella said at an event in Bangkok, the capital, referring to the company’s cloud computing platform.
The data center in Thailand will also provide enterprise-grade reliability and performance, as well as compliance with data location and privacy standards, Microsoft (NASDAQ:) added in a statement.
The data center was in line with Thailand’s goal of becoming a hub for the digital economy, Prime Minister Sretta Tyweesin said.
“Microsoft’s investment is a major turning point in the development of Thailand’s digital economy, enhancing competitiveness,” Sretta wrote on social media, adding that it will boost economic growth.
Microsoft has pledged to train 2.5 million people in Southeast Asia to use artificial intelligence by 2025.