Today, Microsoft unveiled landmark commitments to accelerate Thailand’s digital transformation, headlined by establishing a new cloud-based data center region within the country. This move, along with AI skills training for over 100,000 of Thailand’s workers and ongoing support for the developer community, solidifies Microsoft’s role in driving Thailand towards its ‘Ignite Thailand’ vision for a regional digital powerhouse.

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The announcement was made by Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella at the Microsoft Build: AI Day in Bangkok with over 2,000 industry leaders in attendance, including a special address from Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The Prime Minister endorsed ‘Ignite Thailand’ as a strategic path to bolster the nation’s innovation, R&D capabilities, and technological workforce, with today’s partnership seen as a transformative step forward.

Thailand’s Digital Evolution: Microsoft’s Catalytic Role

“Thailand has an unprecedented opportunity to lead the charge in creating a digital-first, AI-powered future,” asserted Satya Nadella. “With our new datacenter region, cloud and AI infrastructure investments, and comprehensive skills training, we’re deeply committed to empowering Thai organizations across sectors to fuel innovation and achieve new levels of growth.

Dhanawat Suthumpun, Microsoft Thailand’s Managing Director, underlined the sentiment: “Microsoft is dedicated to helping Thailand excel as a digital economy, ensuring that the benefits of cloud and AI technologies are widespread and contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of Thais. Together, we are laying the foundations for a future that is not only technologically advanced but also inclusive and sustainable.”

The Impact of Microsoft’s Data Center

The linchpin of Microsoft’s digital infrastructure commitment is the establishment of a new data center region in Thailand. This will:

• Supercharge Cloud Adoption: Local access to Microsoft’s hyperscale cloud services ensures unparalleled reliability, performance, and compliance with data residency and privacy standards, accelerating cloud adoption by enterprises and the public sector.
• Unlock AI’s Potential: With AI estimated to add nearly US$1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2030 (Kearney Research), Thailand’s new data center will be crucial for realizing the transformative economic and productivity gains that AI can bring.

Addressing the AI Skills Gap

Microsoft also recently announced a broader goal of providing AI skilling opportunities for 2.5 million people across ASEAN nations by 2025. In Thailand specifically, over 100,000 individuals will benefit through skills training and support.

A notable highlight is the AI Skills for the AI-enabled Tourism Industry program, a collaborative effort between Microsoft and several Thai ministries. It aims to empower young entrepreneurs and youths in Thailand’s tourism sector by equipping them with the AI skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital industry.

Empowering Thailand’s Developers

“Developers are the changemakers shaping Thailand’s digital future,” stated Nadella. Initiatives like Microsoft’s AI Odyssey program, expected to help 6,000 Thai developers become AI subject matter experts, bolster the nation’s growing developer community. Thailand’s rapidly expanding presence on the GitHub platform is further evidence of this vibrant innovation ecosystem.

Real-World AI Success Stories

Several Thai organizations are already showcasing the power of Microsoft’s generative AI solutions, including:

• AIS: Thailand’s largest digital life service provider has seen enhanced workforce productivity with Copilot for Microsoft 365, as well as innovative application development using GitHub Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service.
• NHSO: The transformed platform of the National Health Security Office simplifies healthcare policies with Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Machine Learning, and other Microsoft technologies.
• SCBX: This financial technology conglomerate uses Azure OpenAI Service to enhance its customer support chatbot, saving US$400,000 annually and providing other benefits.

Partnerships for Progress

Microsoft is also working closely with government agencies on strategic initiatives such as AI skills training for government IT personnel, a cloud-first policy, and cybersecurity collaborations.

The announcement solidifies Microsoft’s partnership role in Thailand’s vision for a technologically advanced, AI-powered economy, fueled by a skilled workforce and cutting-edge digital infrastructure.