PM praises Google’s$ 1bn investment strategy
The Thai government is working with them and promoting modern skills and system, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who has assured the world’s largest tech companies.
Mr Paetongtarn on Friday held independent discussions with executives of three big tech firms, Google, TikTok and Microsoft, on the outside of the 2024 Apec Economic Leaders ‘ gathering in Peru, according to Indian government official Jirayu Houngsub.
During the meeting with Karan Bhatia, the global vice-president of government affairs and public policy at Google, Ms Paetongtarn welcomed Google’s plan to develop a data centre and cloud region in Thailand under a US$ 1 billion ( 34.8 billion baht ) investment. The plan is expected to create over 14, 000 jobs from 2025 to 2029 and generate approximately$ 4 billion in economic value by 2029, the spokesman said, quoting the PM.
Additionally, Ms. Paetongtarn reaffirmed Thailand’s dedication to working closely with Google to advance the use of online tools to simplify state operations and advance the” Get Cloud First” plan.
Mr. Jirayu praised Mr. Bhatia’s government’s strategy for promoting modern technologies and said Google is willing to work with Google to train Thai employees.
According to the official, the two parties will look into ways to collaborate more effectively in security and online fraud protection in light of a memorandum of understanding that Google and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society signed last yr.
Following on a prior meeting between Ms. Paetongtarn and Ruth Porat, the president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, during her September 30th visit to Thailand, the discourse was held.
During the conference, they discussed the development of Google’s investment strategy and explored additional areas for assistance to encourage Thailand’s digital economy and ecology.
The prime secretary praised TikTok’s close collaboration with several Thai agencies at a meeting with Shou Zi Chew, the country’s chief executive, claiming that this has helped Thailand in different ways by promoting tourism, boosting online marketing opportunities, and promoting modern knowledge and skills among other things.
Both parties discussed ways to strengthen their collaboration, particularly in terms of promoting Thailand’s modern economy and ecosystem, supporting small businesses, promoting Thailand’s innovative and tourism sectors, and promoting digital literacy and skills among Thais.
TikTok’s CEO furthermore praised the Thai government’s plan to use a modern market as one of its main economic growth engines, the federal official said.
Both parties concurred that social media platform people should be protected, and that content designers should also have social responsibilities, according to Mr. Jirayu.
TikTok, a leading international tech firm, manages a number of platforms that provide users with information, entertainment, and education content. TikTok formally launched in Thailand in 2019, and by 2024, has over 49 million Thai people ‘ accounts.
After that, Ms. Paetongtarn met with Microsoft’s corporate vice-president and deputy public lawyers Antony Cook, who she welcomed the adjacent partnership and said she was ready to work with the company to advance Thailand’s digital transformation.
They also discussed potential programs for additional funding for AI system, as well as initiatives to improve Thai employees ‘ AI abilities for high-tech sectors, which are essential to creating an economic environment conducive to Thailand’s goal of becoming a local digital hub.
This conference was a follow-up on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s visit to Thailand in May 2024, during which he outlined Microsoft’s corporate initiatives in Thailand, Mr Jirayu said.
They include promoting conceptual AI tools to improve organizational effectiveness and ability and promoting Artificial skills development for Thais.