Thai PM to seal multi-billion deal with Microsoft

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is poised to welcome Microsoft titan Satya Nadella at the Government House next month, fuelling anticipation for a high-stakes dialogue on technological advancement.

Reports suggest the rendezvous will delve into investments spanning a cutting-edge data centre, the Cloud First platform, and pioneering strides in artificial intelligence (AI) within Thailand’s borders.

Nadella’s eagerly anticipated appearance is scheduled to coincide with the Microsoft Build: AI Day event on May 1. This milestone affair, hosted at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, aims to spotlight the burgeoning synergy between the tech behemoth and Thailand’s governmental sphere.

A group of global corporate leaders, alongside local companies and software developers, are poised to grace the event. Notably, the 62 year old Srettha is scheduled to deliver a keynote address, underscoring Thailand’s commitment to tech-driven progress.

Post-event, insider sources hint at an exclusive luncheon at the Government House, where PM Srettha and Nadella will navigate the roadmap for collaborative tech ventures and strategic investments. This meeting marks a crescendo following the landmark memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked during the PM’s stateside visit last November, heralding an era of digital innovation and economic propulsion.

Central to this pact is Microsoft’s pivotal role in fortifying Thailand’s digital infrastructure, with initiatives spanning e-government services, industrial AI applications, and bolstering sectors vital to national development, reported The Nation.

Moreover, Microsoft pledges unwavering support towards Thailand’s eco-centric endeavours, with commitments towards net-zero emissions and renewable energy integration.

ORIGINAL STORY: Microsoft CEO halts Southeast Asia trip including Bangkok

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella delayed his visit to Thailand and neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, as announced yesterday.

The eagerly awaited Microsoft Build: AI Day event slated for March 21 in Bangkok now hangs in limbo indefinitely, Microsoft revealed on Friday.

“We are doing our utmost in preparing to reschedule the event and will inform you of the details as soon as possible.”

Curiously, no explicit reason has been given for the sudden change in plans, leaving tech enthusiasts speculating about the underlying motives. Moreover, uncertainty shrouds whether Nadella will grace the rescheduled event with his presence.

Originally set to embark on a whirlwind tour from March 19 to 21, Nadella intended to make stops in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta for separate AI Day engagements. His anticipated rendezvous with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, scheduled during his Bangkok visit, now hangs in the balance.

The highlight of the thwarted Microsoft Build: AI Day in Bangkok was Nadella’s keynote address on the dawn of artificial intelligence’s new era. Promising insights into the transformative power of AI for organisations and society at large, the event was eagerly awaited by tech enthusiasts.

Nadella, who hails from India, last graced Thailand’s shores in 2016, pledging Microsoft’s support to bolster the nation’s developer community during the Microsoft Thailand Developer Day event, reported The Nation.

Nadella ascended to the helm of Microsoft in 2014, succeeding Steve Ballmer as CEO and John Thompson as chairman in 2021.