Microsoft Commits $1.7B to Boost Indonesia’s Cloud, AI Infrastructure and Skills Training

In a significant move, Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it will invest $1.7 billion over the next four years into Indonesia’s cloud and AI infrastructure. The company’s CEO Satya Nadella made this announcement during his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta to discuss technological advancements aimed at driving progress for the country. Microsoft stated that these funds will not only go towards building new data centers but also focus on training 840,000 locals and providing AI skill sets for another two and a half million individuals from various member nations of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2025. The company’s move comes at an opportune time when Indonesia is pushing ahead with its Golden Indonesia Vision – a long-term development strategy that aims to transform the country into a global economic powerhouse by 2045. Microsoft highlighted that this investment will enable it to capitalize on growing demand for cloud computing services in Indonesia while also helping the nation capture productivity and economic opportunities arising from AI. With around one billion mobile internet users expected in Southeast Asia within three years, according to a report published last year by Google, Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd (TMH), and Bain & Co., investment towards bolstering infrastructure could well pay off for Microsoft as the region’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion.