SAN FRANCISCO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was kept busy meeting with technology giants Google, Enovix Corporation, Microsoft and Tik Tok here today, a session which ended with pledges of greater investments in the country.
TikTok, via its chief executive Shou Zi Chew, briefed Anwar on its investment plans via its parent company, ByteDance in data centre facilities in Malaysia.
It also made known that it intended to use Malaysia as its Asian hub with its proprietary and industry-leading technology as they expanded their foothold in the region.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the company had already pumped in US$6 billion and would be investing a further US$2.8 billion as it pursues its plans.
Google during its meeting with Anwar also announced its plans for a strategic collaboration with the Malaysian government to invest in the country's digital competitiveness, including Infrastructure and AI innovation programmes.
The initiative will see both parties getting together to help businesses of all sizes advance their digital competitiveness through skilling programmes, investment in digital infrastructure, responsible artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, and cloud-first policies.
The meeting between Anwar and Google involved the company President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat, Google Asia Pacific President Scott Beaumont and Google global vice president of government affairs and public policy Karan Bhatia.
Also present at the meeting, held on the sidelines of the Apec 2023 Summit here were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Google Cloud VP and general manager Amit Zavery and Google Southeast Asia head of government affairs and public policy Su Ann Lim.
However, the biggest catch netted was that involving Enovix Cooperation's plans to set up a high tech silicon battery producing plant in Penang.
Enovix, represented by its chief operating officer Ajay Marathe, will see its plant in Penang start operations by April next year.
Microsoft Asia - represented by its president Ahmad Mazhari, shared its plan with Anwar to go beyond its investment in creating the first data centre region in Malaysia.
It is now looking to make new additional investments in Malaysia's by expanding the original data centre region and developing further capacity outside of Kuala Lumpur.
This will enable Malaysia to be a focal point for cloud computing and related frontier technologies, such as AI, within the region.
Speaking to reporters later, Anwar said the companies had committed to extending their investments in Malaysia.
He said a stable political system and clear policies are among important factors for such tech giants to invest in the country.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the government was also committed to ensuring speedy approval process to instill confidence among investors.
Meanwhile, one of the biggest private equity company TPG's founding partner, executive chairman and director James G Jim Coulter also paid a courtesy call to Anwar.
TPG's total investment in Malaysia thus far is RM13.8 billion across the healthcare, education & consumer sectors.