During a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced plans to invest $1.7bn in artificial intelligence and cloud services. This investment will help train 840,000 individuals in AI and support the growing number of tech developers in the country. It is the largest investment that Microsoft has made in Indonesia in its nearly thirty years of operation there.
Nadella spoke with President Joko Widodo about the importance of this new era of AI and how it is transforming the way people live and work worldwide. He emphasized how Microsoft’s investments in digital infrastructure, training programs, and developer support will help Indonesia prosper in this evolving landscape. The CEO highlighted Indonesia’s potential as a country with a population of 280 million and its position as Southeast Asia’s largest economy. With the third-largest developer community in the region, Indonesia is poised to make significant gains from AI implementation.
In fact, a study by Kearney predicted that AI could contribute nearly $1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2030, with Indonesia capturing a significant portion of that growth. Microsoft’s focus on AI development is part of its global strategy to support AI infrastructure worldwide. The company recently made investments in Japan and the UAE to boost cloud and AI capabilities. These efforts align with Microsoft’s commitment to driving innovation and growth across different markets.
The news was welcomed by Indonesian leaders who see Microsoft’s investments as an opportunity to accelerate the country’s digital transformation journey. With this investment, Microsoft aims to create new job opportunities for Indonesians while also driving economic growth through technology adoption.
In conclusion, Microsoft’s plans to invest $1.7bn in artificial intelligence and cloud services in Indonesia are a significant step towards driving innovation and growth across different markets globally. By training individuals and supporting tech developers, Microsoft aims to help Indonesia capture a significant portion of Southeast Asia’s growing AI market while creating new job opportunities for its citizens.