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Grab and SoftBank to pour $1.85bn into Malaysia's AI infrastructure

Southeast Asia's ride-hailing giant Grab and Japan's SoftBank Group have committed to investing $1.85 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure across Malaysia, marking a major push to develop the nation's digital capabilities.

LSN World News · 10 November 2026

Grab and SoftBank to pour $1.85bn into Malaysia's AI infrastructure

The substantial investment reflects growing confidence in Malaysia's potential as a regional hub for artificial intelligence development and deployment. The partnership between the Singapore-headquartered mobility platform and the Tokyo-based technology conglomerate signals an accelerating trend of major tech investors expanding their presence across Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.

The funding initiative is expected to support the development of AI data centers, computing infrastructure, and related facilities that will underpin the country's artificial intelligence ecosystem. Such infrastructure investments are critical for supporting machine learning applications, cloud computing services, and the broader digital economy that both companies depend upon for their regional operations.

Malaysia has increasingly positioned itself as an attractive destination for technology and innovation investment in recent years. The country's strategic location, growing talent pool, and government support for digital transformation have made it an appealing base for multinational tech companies seeking to expand their footprint across Southeast Asia.

The investment is expected to create employment opportunities and contribute to Malaysia's broader economic development goals while strengthening the country's competitive positioning in the region's rapidly evolving technology sector.