ByteDance to invest $2.13 billion in Malaysia AI hub
As part of the deal, ByteDance will also expand its data centre facilities in Malaysia’s Johor state through an additional investment of 1.5 billion ringgit.
China’s ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, plans to invest around $2.13 billion to establish an AI hub in Malaysia. The plan includes an additional $320 million to expand data centre facilities in Johor state, according to Malaysia’s Trade Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
The development follows significant investments by other tech giants in Malaysia. Google recently announced a $2 billion investment to create its first data centre and Google Cloud region in the country, while Microsoft is set to invest $2.2 billion to enhance cloud and AI services.
The investment is expected to boost Malaysia’s digital economy, aiming to increase its contribution to 22.6% of its GDP by 2025, underscoring the county’s growing importance as a digital economy hub in Southeast Asia.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.
