KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian businesses especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to invest in cloud infrastructure and adopt digital mindset to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future and to compete globally, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He highlighted the positive and deep impact of cloud technologies on the Malaysian economy, noting improvements in productivity and the creation of high-skilled jobs.
"We have seen a surge in efficiency and innovation as industries leverage
cloud-based solutions to streamline operations, automate tasks and gain valuable insights from data," he said at Google's Cloud Day Malaysia here today.
The manufacturing sector, for instance, has used cloud technologies to optimise supply chains, monitor equipment performance and enhance production efficiency.
Similarly, the healthcare industry has benefited from cloud technology, with hospitals improving patient care, managing electronic medical records, and facilitating telemedicine services, he said.
Tengku Zafrul said these advancements not only boost productivity through data-driven insights but also create high-skilled job opportunities in fields such as data analytics, software development, and cloud architecture.
On the cloud's scalability and agility, he said it has enabled homegrown startups to scale up and expand their business' reach outside of Malaysia.
"So, even smaller enterprises can leverage resources that were previously only available to larger corporations," he said.
Access to such enabling capacity levels the playing field, encouraging SMEs to expand their reach into new markets, forge international partnerships, and compete effectively, added Tengku Zafrul.
He said Malaysia has also started projects such as transforming 3,000 smart factories and establishing Malaysia as a hub for Generative AI.
These projects will require a strong Cloud-based enabler, and this is where Google – as one of the global companies developing and promoting cutting-edge cloud-based technologies.
"Google is helping Malaysia realise key missions under our industrial transformation agenda,
including helping our businesses and industries tech up, automate, digitalise and robotise their operations.
"From the ministry''s perspective, the tech investments that we target and particularly favour are the ones that will promote inclusive socio-economic development," said Tengku Zafrul.
He said Google's recent announcement of its US$2-billion data centre investment into Malaysia is a testament to Malaysia's current competitiveness, ease of doing business and growing importance as a regional hub for digital innovation.
"There are only 11 countries in the world where Google has data centre investments of this scale, and we appreciate Malaysia being one of them.
"Regardless of how we were globally ranked on our competitiveness based on a snapshot of time, the proof of the pudding is in the eating," added Tengku Zafrul.
The Cloud Day Malaysia saw 479 participants from public and private companies coming together to exchange ideas, forge new partnerships and experience first-hand the transformational potential of Cloud and AI technology.
Companies like AirAsia Move, Gamuda Bhd and Bank Muamalat were present to showcase their involvement in AI innovation in their operations.