Google To Invest RM9.4 Billion For First Google Data Centre And Google Cloud Region In Malaysia, Supporting 26,500 Jobs By 2030

The Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry (MITI) has secured a commitment by Google to invest RM9.4 billion (USD2 billion) to house its first Google data centre and Google Cloud region in Malaysia, which will support 26,500 jobs across various sectors in Malaysia– including in healthcare, education, and finance – with a total economic impact valued at RM15.04 billion (USD3.2 billion).  

The Malaysia cloud region will join 40 regions and 121 zones currently in operation around the world to meet the growing demand for cloud services locally and globally, as well as Al literacy programs for Malaysian students and educators.  

This latest commitment by yet another global tech giant to Malaysia represents a key milestone in the MADANI Government’s vision to attract more digital investors into the country, to help build a digitally enabled economy that is both strong and safe. The increased capacity of and reliability on cloud services will support various sectors – including healthcare, education, and finance – to foster a more connected and resilient world.  

This announcement was made after a series of MITI-facilitated engagements involving YAB Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim with Ms Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet and Google. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Google on 14 November 2023.

YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, said, “Google's latest announcement on its RM9.4-billion investment in Malaysia will significantly advance the digital ambitions outlined in our New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030). The Google data center and Google Cloud region in Greater Kuala Lumpur will empower our manufacturing and service-based industries to leverage AI and other advanced technologies to move up the global value chain, with an estimated economic impact valued at RM15.04 billion. We also welcome Google’s plan to help us develop a robust talent ecosystem by facilitating the growth of our people’s digital skills, businesses, and careers. As this attracts further investments, it will spur innovation and drive growth for organizations of all sizes. We are confident that Google's partnership and continued investment will accelerate our nation’s digital transformation, contributing to the MADANI vision towards a more prosperous, technologically advanced Malaysia."

Ms Ruth Porat said: "Google's first data center and Google Cloud region is our largest planned investment so far in Malaysia – a place Google has been proud to call home for 13 years. This investment builds on our partnership with the Malaysian government to advance its 'Cloud First Policy,' including best-in-class cybersecurity standards. With today's announcement, Malaysia and Google are partnering to advance our shared work to create a supportive ecosystem for innovation and unlock the potential of digital transformation.”

In line with MADANI Economy Framework which encourages innovation and inclusivity to help propel Malaysia into the top 30 of global economies by 2033, transformative technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics powered by cloud and AI services by global tech giants have the potential to empower businesses of all sizes. This includes start-ups, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), whose potential could be unlocked by technology to drive differentiation and market competitiveness.  

“Malaysia's steadfast commitment to robust digital infrastructure has convinced many multinationals to come to our shores, resulting in RM144.7 billion of digital investments approved from 2021 to 2023. As MITI actively nurtures an empowering digital ecosystem that will drive tech-based solutions across various sectors, it will also strengthen our value proposition that Malaysia is where global starts, the place to be for companies to strengthen their regional and global operating success,” continued Tengku Zafrul. 

The site of this most recent investment in Malaysia will be in Sime Darby Property's Elmina Business Park, in Greater Kuala Lumpur. The Google data center will power Google's popular digital services, such as Search, Maps, and Workspace, while also playing an essential role in enabling Google to deliver the benefits of Al to users across the country. When operational, Malaysia will join the 11 countries where Google has built and currently operates data centers to serve users around the world. The Google Cloud region, on the other hand, will deliver high-performance and low-latency cloud infrastructure, analytics, and AI services to large enterprises, startups, and public sector organizations, while maintaining the highest security and regulatory compliance standards.