Jakarta: Microsoft's billion-dollar investment to develop cloud and AI

The US giant is ready to allocate funds worth USD 1.7 billion to the archipelago. For CEO Nardella, the aim is to 'help' the country 'hit its development targets', in line with outgoing President Widodo's Indonesia Emas 2045 slogan. A plan that embraces the Southeast Asian region and aims to create up to 2.5 million jobs. 

jakarta (AsiaNews) - Microsoft is ready to allocate funds worth USD 1.7 billion in Indonesia to support the development of local infrastructure related to cloud computing and artificial intelligence. This was announced by the US giant's CEO Satya Nadella, during his stop in Jakarta a few days ago during which he provided more details on the 'Microsoft Build'. It is a four-year project that aims to strengthen the work of local partners, particularly in the development of AI management capabilities and in improving the knowledge of the more than 840,000 specialists and operators in the sector scattered throughout the archipelago. 

As the CEO recalls, this is the company's first mega-investment in its 29 years of presence and is a further step in the development of relations, as well as a sign of trust in what is the most important economy among the countries of South-East Asia. Arie Setiadi, Indonesia's Minister of Information and Communications welcomed the decision, which feeds into and reinforces outgoing President Joko Widodo's policy summed up in the popular slogan 'Indonesia Emas' (Golden Indonesia) in 2045.

The latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, Nardella points out, have 'radically changed our way of life and the way people work and this is also happening in Indonesia'. "Our commitment is clear: to help Indonesians," the Microsoft CEO continued, "develop to achieve the nation's goals. For Microsoft Indonesia President Dharma Simorangkir, the investment plan represents 'a significant step' towards making Jakarta 'a new centre of talent and digital innovation'.

Recent studies show that AI technology and platform could produce almost USD 1 trillion in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for the South East Asian region in 2030, and Indonesia will absorb at least USD 4,366 billion. With this in mind, the mega investment is expected to meet and satisfy the country's demands in obtaining cloud computing services, which have been booming in recent years, and follows the project announced in February 2021 to develop Indonesia's first data centre.

Furthermore, Microsoft is committed to creating job opportunities for 2.5 million people in the Asean region to learn and develop knowledge in AI technology. And with regard to Indonesia specifically, the company has developed a five-point goal plan: to implement the AI Teach programme for Indonesian vocational school students; to create opportunities for women in cyber security through the Ready4AI&Security project; to create opportunities for young Indonesians, especially those on the margins; to facilitate workshops for Indonesian NGO workers to adopt AI skills; and to incentivise around 3.1 million developers to implement AI in businesses.