Microsoft has officially reaffirmed its intent to accelerate Thailand’s progress toward an AI-powered digital future by announcing a landmark strategic commitment under the “Building Thailand’s AI-Powered Future” initiative. This commitment follows a crucial meeting between the Thai delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas (on behalf of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul), and Microsoft, led by Rodrigo Kede Lima, President of Microsoft Asia.
This initiative underscores Microsoft’s dedication to digital transformation across Southeast Asia and reinforces its partnership with the Royal Thai Government to foster an environment conducive to innovation. The comprehensive plan includes the development of a local cloud and AI infrastructure (Cloud Region), efforts to enhance digital and AI literacy, and a drive to boost innovation capacity among the Thai business sector and developer community. A key component of this plan is the joint establishment of the Microsoft National AI Innovation Center.
New Cloud Region to Serve as AI and Digital Hub
As part of the commitment, Microsoft is accelerating the development of its local Cloud Region and data center infrastructure. This move is designed to provide high-performance cloud and AI services, all while ensuring world-class security standards and full compliance with Thailand’s data residency regulations.
Strategic partnerships have been formed with leading Thai and global entities to support this infrastructure, including:
- CP Group, True Corporation, and True IDC
- Gulf Development and Advanced Info Service (AIS)
The new Cloud Region is poised to significantly contribute to Thailand’s ambition to become a regional hub for AI and digital innovation, attracting foreign investment and unlocking new economic opportunities.
Dr.Ekniti Nitithanprapas stated, “This commitment underscores Thailand’s pivotal role on the global stage of digital and AI innovation. It aligns with the government’s economic policy to promote investment in advanced technology industries – key sectors that will pave the way toward sustainable prosperity through digital and AI literacy for all Thais.”
Rodrigo Kede Lima added, “Our ‘Building Thailand’s AI-Powered Future’ initiative reflects our strong belief in Thailand’s capabilities and our commitment to inclusive innovation. We’re proud to empower Thai organizations and individuals with the infrastructure, skills, and trusted partnerships that will enable a secure, sustainable digital future for all.”
Leading Enterprises to Pioneer AI Adoption
Several leading Thai organizations will be among the first to leverage the upcoming Cloud Region’s advantages in performance and compliance for their AI-powered transformation:
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT): Leveraging cloud and AI to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and unlock new business models through its Digital Business Unit.
- KBTG (KASIKORNBANK Tech Arm): Scaling data-driven initiatives with greater speed and security under its “Human-First x AI-First” strategy.
- SCBX: Accelerating its AI-first organization roadmap to deploy intelligent solutions and agentic, conversational banking experiences, such as AI-assisted Relationship Managers.
Accelerating National Projects and Skilling the Workforce
Microsoft is also co-creating an AI Innovation Sandbox with the Thai government to address national challenges. A key success highlighted is the deployment of an AI solution built on Microsoft Azure OpenAI for the Office of the Council of State (OCS). This system is fast-tracking Thailand’s OECD accession by translating and comparing over 70,000 Thai laws against OECD legal instruments, compressing years of legal review work into mere months.
Furthermore, Microsoft is intensifying AI skills development through the global Microsoft Elevate program, focusing on high-impact groups like educators and social sector professionals.
Dhanawat Suthumpun, Managing Director of Microsoft Thailand and Emerging Markets, emphasized, “By equipping educators, workers and social sector leaders with practical AI skills, we’re helping to unlock a multiplier effect – one that empowers individuals to uplift others and accelerates inclusive innovation nationwide.”
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