Google plans to invest $1 billion to build digital infrastructure in Thailand, including a new data centre, the US tech giant has announced, saying the move would support 14,000 jobs in the kingdom.
The move aims to meet growing demand for cloud computing in Southeast Asia, the company said in a Monday statement.
Google's investment comes after Microsoft announced in May that it would create Thailand's first data centre region to boost cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
"These investments will empower Thai businesses, innovators, and communities to harness the power of cloud and AI technology," Ruth Porat, the president and chief investment officer of Google and its parent company Alphabet, said.
The investment's details were unveiled after a Bangkok meeting between Porat and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who hailed the move as proof Thailand was becoming a major digital hub in Southeast Asia.
The data centre will be located in Chonburi, a major industrial area southeast of Bangkok, while the cloud region will be in the capital itself.
Google's expansion in Thailand will add $4 billion to the kingdom's GDP by 2029 and support 14,000 jobs between 2025 and 2029, the company said, citing a report from consultancy Deloitte.
The announcement comes a year after her predecessor Srettha Thavisin made a major push for investment from US tech giants during a trip to New York, seeking finance from Google, Microsoft and Elon Musk's Tesla.
