Microsoft announces $1.7 billion cloud, AI investment in Indonesia

April 30 (UPI) -- Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it would invest $ 1.7 billion over the next four years into new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Indonesia while training nearly 1 million there to take advantage of AI-related job opportunities.

To develop Indonesia's workforce, Microsoft said its commitment will go to training 840,000 to build a robust developer community in Indonesia. Microsoft said it is part of its overall commitment to countries that are part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"This new generation of AI is reshaping how people live and work everywhere, including in Indonesia," said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft in a statement. "The investment we are announcing today -- spanning digital infrastructure, skilling, and support for developer -- will help Indonesia thrive in this new era."

The investment is expected to play a large role in Indonesia's plan to revamp its economy over the next 20 years, called by officials there as the Golden Indonesia 2045 plan.

Microsoft's announcement came on the same day that Nadella held a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

That effort will lead them to train 2.5 million for new tech jobs in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

"Indonesia's collaboration with Microsoft on AI perfectly aligns with our ambition for a future driven by digital innovation," said Budi Arie Setiadi, Indonesia's minister of communications and information technology.

"I am confident this partnership will open up new horizons for Indonesia, positioning us not only as consumers of technology but as pivotal contributors to the global technological supply chain."