Today marks a significant milestone in Google’s journey in Malaysia as we broke ground on our first data center and cloud region in the country at the “Mantap Malaysia Bersama AI” event. This US$2 billion investment in Elmina Business Park, Selangor, is a crucial step in our commitment to Malaysia’s digital future. As the demand for Google Cloud’s AI innovations and digital products continues to grow, this new infrastructure will not only meet those needs but also unlock immense potential for local businesses and communities. The investments in Malaysia are estimated to support more than US$3.2 billion in positive economic impact and create 26,500 jobs by 2030.
Google has also announced a series of local digital skilling and sustainability partnerships that build on the strategic collaboration we established with the Government of Malaysia at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in November 2023.
We were honored to have YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, join us as the guest of honor, along with YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI). Their presence reflects the importance of this partnership as we work together to empower Malaysia’s future.
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, said: "Today, Google reaffirms its support for advancing Malaysia’s digital future with the ground breaking of our data center and cloud region in Selangor. Google’s investments in infrastructure, digital skilling, and sustainability represent progress on our joint efforts with the Government of Malaysia to create high-value jobs and bring the benefits of AI to local communities and companies. Together, we will empower individuals and businesses in Malaysia to innovate, grow, and fully harness the potential of the digital age. As we do this, Google will continue its responsible stewardship of natural resources by improving community watershed health and ecosystems in Malaysia and helping to drive local adoption of renewable energy sources.”
Building the Foundation for Malaysia’s Digital Economy
Google’s cloud and data center infrastructure in Malaysia will help meet growing demand for Google Cloud capabilities, AI innovations, and the company’s popular digital services—such as Search, Maps, and Google Workspace—that organizations and people in Malaysia, as well as billions of people around the world, use every day.
With construction now underway, this data center and cloud region will be pivotal in supporting Malaysia’s digital transformation. Our US$2 billion investment will provide advanced AI-driven services, while contributing an estimated US$3.2 billion in positive economic impact and creating 26,500 jobs by 2030. This isn't just about infrastructure; it’s about building a future where businesses of all sizes—from startups to large enterprises—can leverage AI, machine learning, and Google Cloud services to innovate and grow.
Today’s ground breaking follows Google Cloud’s 2022 announcement of plans to launch a local cloud region to make it easier and faster for public sector organizations, small and medium businesses (SMBs), startups, and large enterprises to benefit from Google Cloud’s on-demand compute and AI and machine learning (ML) resources. The cloud region will deliver high-performance and low-latency services and offer customers key controls that allow them to maintain the highest security, data residency, and compliance standards, including specific data storage requirements.
We are also proud to partner with Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX) to offer next-generation sovereign cloud solutions. This partnership ensures that organizations in regulated industries like public services, healthcare, and energy can meet their digital sovereignty requirements.
Advancing Sustainability in Malaysia
Google is a pioneer in computing infrastructure, and our data centers are among the most efficient in the world. As part of our climate-conscious approach to data center cooling, Google’s facility in Malaysia will use water-cooling technology, in line with Google’s data-driven water risk framework. This technology uses about 10% less energy compared to air-cooled facilities, resulting in 10% less carbon emissions.
In addition to our data center efforts, we’re excited to announce a collaboration with the Global Environment Centre (GEC) and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to restore Taman Aman Lake in Selangor that further reflect our commitment to water stewardship. This project, focused on improving water quality and biodiversity, is part of our first water stewardship initiative in Malaysia. Through this collaboration, we’re engaging local communities and promoting sustainable waste management to enhance the environment and recreational value of the park.
We’re also expanding our Solar API solution to Malaysia, utilizing AI and satellite imagery to accelerate the adoption of rooftop solar energy. By empowering local organizations to adopt renewable energy, we’re contributing to Malaysia’s sustainability goals while creating high-value jobs in the green sector. One of the first countries to receive access to Solar API, Malaysia has incredible potential to transform its energy landscape. Early adopters of the service include the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) and Gamuda.
Fostering Digital Skills and Inclusive Growth
As AI continues to reshape industries, we are committed to ensuring that all Malaysians have the opportunity to benefit from this technology. Google will soon mark 13 years on the ground in Malaysia; Over the past five years, Google has trained more than 355,000 Malaysians across various sectors, from students and educators to SMB owners and developers.
According to a recent report, targeted digital training initiatives have the potential to add US$19 billion to Malaysia’s economy in 2030. To help ensure Malaysia can create a supportive ecosystem for innovation, unlock the potential of digital transformation, and fully capitalize on the AI opportunity, we’re launching the "Future Skills for All" initiative in collaboration with UNICEF Malaysia, CelcomDigi, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and Arus Academy, with support from the Ministry of Education. This program aims to equip 260 teachers with the digital skills needed to coach up to 61,000 students in Selangor, focusing on providing future-ready education to children from diverse demographics. By fostering an AI-ready workforce, we’re helping to create a more inclusive digital economy in Malaysia.
