Kuala lumpur: The progress of Google's US$2 billion investment in Malaysia is advancing strongly and surpassing initial expectations, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced. This statement followed a video conference with Alphabet and Google president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat and her team.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar shared on Facebook that the Malaysian government is committed to facilitating and supporting the multinational technology corporation's investments. The discussion during the video conference centered around the progress of Google's investment, which was initially announced in May 2024.

Anwar emphasized that the investment demonstrates a continued confidence in Malaysia's digital economy ecosystem. This aligns with the country's goal to become a regional hub for secure data flows, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence innovation. The US$2 billion investment includes the development and operation of Google's first data center and cloud services infrastructure in Malaysia. Once operational, it is expected to generate an economic impact of US$3.2 billion and create 26,500 jobs by 2030.

In 2024, Google committed to an RM9.4 billion investment in Malaysia. This encompasses the establishment of its first data center and a Google Cloud region to cater to the rising demand for cloud services both locally and globally. Additionally, it includes an artificial intelligence literacy program aimed at students and educators throughout the country.