Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Microsoft is set to launch a cloud region in Indonesia in the second quarter of this year. Microsoft Indonesia's President Director, Dharma Simorangkir, stated that the launch of the cloud region is part of the company's efforts to strengthen Indonesia's digital infrastructure and support the country's digital economy.
"We want to announce that Indonesia Central, the Indonesia Cloud Region, will be launched in the second quarter of 2025," said Dharma during an iftar gathering in South Jakarta on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. He mentioned that Indonesia Central will be part of the global network of over 60 Microsoft Azure cloud regions worldwide.
Dharma said the launch of Indonesia Central will accelerate the adoption of cloud technology across various sectors. Based on Microsoft's calculations, the economic impact of having a cloud region in Indonesia is projected to reach US$2.5 billion or around Rp41 trillion. This figure represents 16.5 percent of the total $15.2 billion in new economic value that Microsoft, its partners, and cloud customers will create over the next four years.
Furthermore, Dharma claimed that the presence of the Indonesia Central will create many job opportunities. "We estimate that it will add around 106,295 new jobs in various sectors such as manufacturing and resources, finance, communications and media, professional services, government, and others," he said.
However, Dharma also stated that the primary influence of AI-based technology does not solely depend on infrastructure. He pointed to another factor, the readiness of digital talent in Indonesia.
Therefore, Microsoft emphasizes the importance of investing in digital skills development and empowering individuals who can bring about change in various sectors. "Over the past two years, we have equipped 704,342 people in Indonesia with digital skills amid the rapidly evolving AI-based economy," he said.
Microsoft has announced a joint initiative with the Ministry of Communication and Digital to develop one million Indonesian AI talents through the elevAIte Indonesia program launched in December 2024. The company is working with 18 partners and continues to open opportunities for more communities and ecosystems to join this important mission.
On that occasion, Dharma also explained the difference between a data center and a cloud region. According to him, a data centre is a physical facility for data storage and processing, while a cloud region is a collection of data centres that enable cloud services on a larger scale. "Thus, with the cloud region, users can manage and process data faster, and also closer to the usefulness of each application," he said.
This announcement coincides with Microsoft's journey towards its 50th anniversary on April 4, 2025.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1986051/microsoft-cloud-region-launch-in-indonesia-to-create-106000-new-job