Alphabet Inc.’s Google has announced a significant $1 billion investment to establish data centers in Thailand, aligning with global tech companies that are enhancing cloud and AI infrastructure in Southeast Asia. The new facilities will be located in Bangkok and Chonburi, with projections indicating that the investment could contribute $4 billion to Thailand’s economy by 2029 and create approximately 14,000 jobs annually over the next five years, as highlighted by a Deloitte study.
The announcement was made in conjunction with Thailand’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, emphasizing the region’s efforts to attract foreign tech investments. With a population of around 675 million, Southeast Asia is emerging as a critical growth area for major companies like Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Amazon, which are investing billions in AI data centers across Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s Chief Investment Officer, stated, “We are investing in cloud regions, data centers, and subsea cables across the region, building on our years of work to bring cloud infrastructure closer to people and organizations. This region holds great potential.”
Google’s commitment follows earlier announcements of substantial investments in Malaysia and Singapore this year. Amazon revealed a $9 billion investment in Singapore in May, while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella outlined a roadmap involving $4 billion in expenditures for data centers and infrastructure in the region.
Governments globally are striving to balance digital sovereignty with attracting foreign investments, aiming to retain control over citizens’ data while leveraging the expertise and financial power of international tech firms to develop AI and cloud infrastructure.
The new data centers will bolster Google’s AI-driven services, including search, maps, and workspace. Having operated in Thailand for 13 years, Google has trained over 3.6 million students, educators, developers, and small businesses in digital skills over the past five years.
Paetongtarn emphasized that Google’s investment aligns with Thailand’s cloud policies and will “accelerate the development of innovative digital services and unlock economic opportunities” in the country.
Credit: BnnBloomberg (Text Excluding Headline)
