Kuala lumpur: ASEAN is set to experience substantial growth in its digital economy over the next two years as the region transitions from early-stage artificial intelligence (AI) adoption to a comprehensive AI-driven business model. This shift is supported by increasing demand for cloud services and the implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, AWS ASEAN Managing Director Jeff Johnson highlighted the industrial-scale adoption of AI in the region. Businesses are increasingly adopting an AI-centric approach to reimagine their processes. Malaysia, in particular, is reinforcing its position with the DEFA's AI governance pillar, which advocates for explainable and safe AI systems across member states. Johnson emphasized the focus on trustworthy AI, noting that AWS is embedding these capabilities into its services to meet emerging DEFA requirements.
On the infrastructure front, Johnson revealed that AWS is collaborating with Malaysia to establish a water reclamation facility capable of producing 6.5 billion litres of reclaimed water annually. This initiative is aimed at supporting data centre cooling and ensuring the sustainability of digital infrastructure in the long term.
Johnson also noted the significant opportunities AWS sees in Malaysia, particularly as AI aids both large enterprises and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in accelerating adoption. Tools that reduce the skill barriers to software development and cloud migration are playing a crucial role in this process.
At a broader level, Johnson stated that ASEAN continues to be a priority growth region for AWS, as demonstrated by increased engagement and ongoing investments in infrastructure, talent development, and innovation programs. AWS aims to enhance digital skills, create economic opportunities, and support national development efforts. As ASEAN approaches a US$1 trillion digital economy, the impact on employment, families, and long-term growth is expected to be considerable.
Additionally, AWS is targeting new users, companies upgrading outdated systems, and SMEs leveraging AI to develop and launch products more rapidly. Johnson anticipates strong enterprise momentum over the next one to two years as AI accelerates cloud migration, particularly for legacy systems.
The AWS re: Invent 2025 conference, scheduled for December 1-5, 2025, in Las Vegas, USA, features keynote announcements, training and certification opportunities, over 1,000 technical sessions, and an expo. The event is expected to attract around 60,000 attendees from around the globe.