Technology

Amazon plans $33 billion cloud and AI expansion across Southeast Asia

13:04

By: Dakir Madiha

Zoom

Amazon said Thursday that its cumulative investment in cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand is expected to exceed $33 billion by 2039, reinforcing Southeast Asia’s position as a growing global hub for digital infrastructure.

The company estimates the projects will contribute more than $64 billion to the combined gross domestic product of the four countries once completed. Amazon also said the expansion could support more than 56,300 full-time equivalent jobs annually through local data center supply chains and related services.

David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer, said the company is increasing its long-term presence in Southeast Asia as competition intensifies over AI infrastructure and digital services. He said Amazon is investing not only in facilities and cloud systems, but also in workforce training programs aimed at helping businesses in the region compete internationally.

Zapolsky praised regional governments for introducing policies designed to attract foreign technology investment. He said stronger regulatory support and economic incentives have accelerated the development of AI and digital industries across Southeast Asia at a pace that continues to draw major international companies.

Amazon said it has trained around 2.7 million people in cloud computing skills across Southeast Asia since 2017. The company considers workforce development in AI and cloud technologies a critical issue for long-term economic growth and said it remains open to partnerships with governments to establish national training targets and digital education programs.

The announcement builds on a series of investment commitments Amazon has already made in the region. These include $9 billion allocated for Singapore through 2028, $6 billion for Malaysia and $5 billion for Thailand. In 2025 alone, Amazon invested more than $3 billion in Southeast Asian operations, including infrastructure projects and employee compensation.

The expansion reflects growing competition among global technology firms seeking to secure a larger share of Southeast Asia’s digital economy. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations estimates the region’s digital economy could reach a value of $560 billion by 2030. Amazon launched its first AWS region in Singapore in 2010 before expanding operations into Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in later years.

The company is also increasing renewable energy investments across Southeast Asia as part of its broader commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2040. The strategy links rising demand for AI computing power with pressure on major technology companies to reduce the environmental impact of large-scale data center operations.