In the first half of 2024, Southeast Asia (SEA) attracted over 30 billion USD in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investments, according to the 2024 e-Conomy SEA Report from Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company.
Tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon committed to injecting 50 billion USD in the region’s AI sector. (Illustrated photo by VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - In the first half of 2024, Southeast Asia (SEA) attracted over 30 billion USD in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investments, according to the 2024 e-Conomy SEA Report from Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company.
Since January last year, tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon committed to injecting 50 billion USD in the region’s AI sector. The influx of investments reflects the growing recognition of Southeast Asia as a burgeoning hub for AI innovation - a shift that could drive the region's economy forward. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has projected that AI could boost the region's gross domestic product by 10% to 18%, potentially adding 1 trillion USD by 2030.
Having acknowledged AI's importance, some Southeast Asian governments have formulated national strategies, such as Indonesia's National Strategy for AI and Singapore's NAIS 2.0, to integrate the tech across various sectors. Singapore has also invested 70 million USD to develop models tailored to regional cultures, among other efforts.
At the regional level, ASEAN has launched initiatives such as the ASEAN Guideline on AI Governance and Ethics and established the ASEAN Working Group on AI (WG-AI) to promote collaborative efforts and ethical AI use across its member states.
The private sector has been driving AI adoption. A report titled "2024 e-Conomy SEA" - prepared by Google, notes that 54% of generative AI projects advance from idea to production within six months, and 71% yield Return on Investment (ROI) within 12 months. With an impressive short turnaround, regional tech majors such as Gojek, Grab, and Lazada leverage AI in their business operations.
To truly capitalise on AI's transfor🔯mative power and establish Southeast Asia as the n🐓ext frontier in the field of AI, a unified and strategic approach is essential. It should feature vocational programmes, public-private partnerships for reskilling and upskilling, and improvement of digital infrastructure, among others./.
The Vietnamese Party and State consider US tech giant NVIDIA as a leading strategic partner in semiconductor and AI – the two domains that have been prioritised for the country's breakthroughs in improving productivity and competitiveness, Party General Secretary To Lam said on December 6.
The National Innovation Centre (NIC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and Google, organised a seminar on November 15 to explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and discuss policies and mechanisms for its development in Vietnam.
Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) will allocate 270 million USD to the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) in the next three years to train specialists and develop next-gen supercomputers in order to boost AI through supercomputing talent and infrastructure.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
