The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) of Malaysia and the Ministry of Investment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their commitment to advancing investment cooperation in the digital infrastructure sector.
The focus of the collaboration is on the development of data centres in Malaysia, with potential projects expected to reach a total capacity of 500 megawatts, according to Bernama.
The MoU signifies a strategic partnership aimed at fostering greater bilateral economic and investment relationships between the two countries.
MITI said Malaysia, with its robust digital and physical infrastructure, is emerging as a preferred destination for data centres in Southeast Asia.
The collaboration also reflects Malaysia’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) in alignment with its New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the aims of which include enhancing the capacity of industries, SMEs and start-ups in AI and developing AI solution providers.
The ministers emphasised that this partnership will contribute to Malaysia’s position as a regional data centre hub, capturing a significant portion of ASEAN’s digital economy, projected to reach USD1 trillion (~RM4.73 trillion) by 2030.
The MoU highlights the strong trade relations between Malaysia and the UAE, with significant growth in non-oil trade volume, positioning the UAE as Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner in the Middle East.
