At the AWS ASEAN Summit in Singapore, Amazon Web Services (AWS) made a significant announcement today. AWS plans to invest an additional SG$12 billion into its existing cloud infrastructure in Singapore from 2024 to 2028, doubling its total planned investment to more than SG$23 billion by 2028. This investment is driven by the growing customer demand for cloud technology and services in the country.
According to a new AWS economic impact study, this investment, along with previous commitments, is estimated to contribute SG$23.7 billion to Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2028. Additionally, it is expected to support an average of 12,300 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in local Singapore businesses each year. These job opportunities span various sectors, including construction, facility maintenance, engineering, and telecommunications.
Priscilla Chong, Country Manager of AWS Singapore, highlighted the company’s commitment to helping Singapore’s economy and digital landscape flourish. She stated, “AWS is doubling down on its cloud infrastructure investments in Singapore from 2024 to 2028 to support customer demand and help reinforce Singapore’s status as an attractive regional innovation launchpad and a global leader in digital competitiveness.”
Furthermore, AWS Singapore launched the flagship AI program, AWS AI Spring, to accelerate the adoption of AI across the local economy. The program aims to train 5,000 individuals on AI skills annually from 2024 to 2026.
Elsie Tan, Country Manager of Worldwide Public Sector, Singapore, AWS, emphasized the potential of AI to transform industries and drive Singapore’s Smart Nation vision. She expressed excitement about collaborating with the government and customers to unlock the power of AI, stating, “AWS will empower local organizations and students with technology and skills to tackle unique challenges, unlock new opportunities, delight customers, and scale in a secure, resilient, and sustainable manner.”
The AWS AI Spring program encompasses six strategic pillars, including collaboration with the public sector, workforce upskilling, enterprise adoption, startup nurturing, community development, and research and development. By leveraging AWS’s comprehensive suite of AI and machine learning services, the program aims to equip organizations and individuals with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate the AI-powered future.
To address the growing demand for AI-skilled talent in Singapore, AWS will offer robust skilling and professional certification programs through its AI Spring Workforce pillar. AWS aims to collaborate with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), such as universities and polytechnics, and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to train 5,000 individuals annually on AI skills from 2024 to 2026. The goal is to triple the pool of AI practitioners in Singapore to 15,000 over the next five years.
AWS’s dedication to upskilling Singapore’s workforce is evident by its commitment to incorporate AI education into ITE’s curriculum and empower teachers and students with generative AI services. Since 2017, AWS has already trained over 400,000 individuals in Singapore in cloud skills, further solidifying its role in supporting the local digital workforce.
With this significant investment and the launch of the AWS AI Spring program, AWS is positioning itself as a key player in Singapore’s digital transformation. By fostering innovation, upskilling the workforce, and driving AI adoption, AWS is not only fortifying its presence in Singapore but also contributing to the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
As we move towards an AI-driven future, the impact of AWS’s investments and initiatives in Singapore is poised to be far-reaching, unlocking new opportunities and propelling the nation to new heights of technological advancement.
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