Google to Invest $2 Billion in Malaysia

Google has announced a $2 billion investment in Malaysia to establish its first data centre and cloud region in Southeast Asia.

“This investment is not just about infrastructure; it’s about unlocking new possibilities for businesses, educators, and every Malaysian,” stated Farhan S Qureshi, country director for Google Malaysia, in a blog post on Thursday.

The new data centre will support Google services such as Google Search and Google Maps and will facilitate the delivery of AI capabilities across Malaysia. The Google Cloud region will offer high-performance, low-latency cloud services to enterprises, startups, and public sector organisations, ensuring high security and compliance standards.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted that the investment is projected to contribute $3.2 billion to the country’s economy and create 26,500 jobs by 2030. “This investment underscores the Government’s strategic planning and Malaysia’s economic strength, making it an attractive destination for new and existing investors,” Anwar stated on X.

This move follows similar announcements by US tech giants in the region. Microsoft recently committed $2.2 billion to AI and cloud computing in Malaysia, while Amazon announced a $9 billion investment to expand cloud infrastructure in Singapore.

Southeast Asia, with its young, tech-savvy population of 670 million, is one of the fastest-growing regional economies. A report by global consulting firm Kearney estimates that AI could add nearly $1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2030.

Google’s investment is part of a broader trend of increased tech investment in the region, driven by its growing economic potential and digital transformation efforts.