Tag Archives: AWS Region

Business, News

AWS Announces New Thailand Region

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently announced a significant investment in Thailand’s digital future. The company plans to launch a new AWS Asia Pacific (Bangkok) Region by early 2025, accompanied by a US$5 billion investment in the country by 2037. This move signifies a major commitment to supporting Thailand’s “Ignite Thailand” ambition and its cloud-first approach to economic growth.

Expanding Infrastructure and Empowering Innovation

The new AWS Region will join existing infrastructure like CloudFront edge locations, Outposts, and Local Zones. This expanded presence offers several benefits. Customers with data residency preferences can store their data securely within Thailand’s borders. The new Region also promises reduced latency, improving application performance and user experience for cloud-based services across the country. Furthermore, it enhances the overall availability of cloud services, catering to the growing demand for these technologies across Southeast Asia.

Thailand AWS Region
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This infrastructure boost aligns perfectly with Thailand’s “Ignite Thailand” plan, which aims to establish the nation as a regional leader in digital innovation. The new Region will empower startups, businesses, and government organizations to leverage cutting-edge technologies like generative AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Positive Impact on Businesses and the Economy

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin welcomed the investment, highlighting its role in propelling Thailand’s digital transformation journey. He emphasized how this move strengthens national infrastructure, fosters business growth, and aligns with the Cloud First initiative. The AWS Region is expected to create economic opportunities by fostering innovation and attracting investments, generating new business opportunities across various sectors. Additionally, training programs offered by AWS will equip Thailand’s workforce with the necessary digital skills to thrive in the digital age. This increased accessibility of cloud technologies is expected to stimulate innovation across various industries.

Several prominent Thai organizations have already embraced AWS cloud services to drive their digital transformation journeys. Financial institutions like the Bank of Ayudhya leverage AWS for data analytics and AI to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Energy companies like PTG Energy utilize AWS for their core applications, with plans to migrate their point-of-sale system for improved performance. Manufacturing giants like PTT Global Chemical leverage AWS to develop a data platform and implement ML operations, enhancing production efficiency. Media organizations like Bangkok Biz News utilize AWS to personalize content and drive media team efficiency. Startups like Botnoi Voice leverage AWS for its text-to-speech AI bot, creating high-quality Thai language voice synthesis.

Despite the growing adoption of AI, Thailand faces a looming skills gap. AWS is committed to bridging this gap through several initiatives. Since 2017, AWS has trained over 50,000 individuals in cloud skills, with a target of reaching 100,000 by 2026. Educational partnerships with Thai universities like Chulalongkorn University equip students with industry-recognized cloud certifications, preparing them for the digital workforce. Additionally, the “AI Ready” initiative offers free training courses on AI and generative AI for individuals with varying technical backgrounds.

Looking Forward: A Brighter Digital Future

The launch of the AWS Thailand Region, coupled with AWS’s commitment to skills development, marks a significant step forward for Thailand’s digital transformation journey. Businesses and organizations across industries will benefit from enhanced cloud infrastructure and access to advanced technologies. By fostering a skilled workforce, Thailand is well-positioned to solidify its place as a leader in Southeast Asia’s digital future.

Business, News

AWS Malaysia Region to Go Live in 2024

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) is preparing to go live with its Malaysia AWS Region. The eagerly awaited AWS Region in Malaysia is now confirmed to go live in 2024. This is part of AWS’s RM25.5 billion (USD$5.39 billion) investment pledge, which aimed to construct a brand-new AWS Region in Malaysia by 2037. This monumental step will provide a slew of benefits for developers, startups, enterprises, educational institutions, and various organizations.

petronas tower kuala lumpur malaysia
Photo by Zukiman Mohamad on Pexels.com

The forthcoming AWS Region is set to play a crucial role in driving Malaysia’s digitization efforts and meeting the surging demand for cloud services. It will also be a hub for innovation in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. An array of cutting-edge technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things will be at the fingertips of startups, small to mid-sized businesses, enterprises, and public sector organizations. The announcement also aligns with the Malaysian government’s recent strategic Madani Economy Framework, which strives to enhance the well-being of all Malaysians by 2030.

The new AWS Region also brings a significant advantage for customers with data residency preferences, enabling secure data storage within Malaysia, faster response times, and catering to the escalating demand for cloud services in the region.

In-Person Support for Local Visionaries & AWS Partners

To further support Malaysia’s digital transformation, AWS opened a new office in Kuala Lumpur on June 1, 2023. This state-of-the-art facility spans over 32,000 square feet, designed to encourage agile work, lifelong learning, and collaboration. It is primed to serve as an innovation hub, deepening relationships with customers and partners.

The Malaysian team is diverse and features experts from different fields who are able to support the company’s Malaysian clientele remotely and in person. Their focus is on empowering customers and AWS Partners of all sizes. Some prominent names include Al Rajhi Bank, Bank Islam, Cancer Research Malaysia, the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE), the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Maxis, and PETRONAS.

Having a diverse team, AWS has been able to help its clientele and partners drive innovation and transformation in their respective fields. For instance, Pos Malaysia Berhad (Pos Malaysia), the nation’s postal and courier service provider, has embraced AWS as part of its ambitious transformation plan. This includes migrating its IT infrastructure to AWS, which has streamlined operations, reduced IT costs by 50%, and introduced new, customer-centric solutions.

The partnership between PETRONAS, Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), Amazon, and AWS is set to accelerate sustainability and decarbonization efforts. Their plan includes the construction of a state-of-the-art facility incorporating advanced technology, robotics, and automation, similar to what’s used in Amazon’s facilities. PETRONAS will continue leveraging AWS technologies to improve and expand existing solutions like SETEL and STEAR.

Generative AI, with its ability to create new content and ideas, is making significant inroads in Malaysia. One of AWS’s partners, 123RF, a major digital image stock agency, has introduced an AI image generation service in collaboration with AWS. This service allows users to create custom images from text prompts and has led to a 20% increase in licensing rates for AI-generated content.

Creating a More Diversely Accessible Launchpad for Malaysia’s Digital Ambitions

The launch of the AWS Malaysia Region in 2024 is set to become a catalyst in Malaysia’s journey toward becoming a regional leader in digital technology. AWS’s commitment, stretching back to 2016, underscores its dedication to supporting Malaysia’s digital transformation, fostering innovation, and building a brighter future for Malaysians.

The company has also been instrumental in the upskilling of Malaysians. They have trained over 50,000 individuals in cloud skills since 2017. Through initiatives like the AWS re/Start program and AWS Academy, they offer free cloud computing skills development and job training. This equips learners for essential roles in the cloud computing industry, connecting them with employment opportunities.