PROJECT ROUND-UP

SINGAPORE PHILIPPINES

NCS, a leading technology services company, has launched a significant S $ 130 million AI transformation initiative across Asia Pacific, focused on‘ Intelligentisation Internationalisation, and Inspiration.’ This three-year investment aims to lead AIdriven change across the region, with the unveiling of their Sunshine. AI suite and the forging of six major technology partnerships, including with AWS, Databricks, Dell Technologies and Google Cloud. NCS is also committed to building an AIenabled workforce of over 10,000 professionals. The project demonstrates a comprehensive digital transformation strategy centered on AI adoption, talent development and strategic alliances to accelerate clients’ AI initiatives from prototype to production, addressing critical needs in secure GenAI deployment and real-world AI workload management across diverse sectors.

The Asian Development Bank( ADB), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance of Japan, recently co-organised the Asia Pacific Digital Transformation Forum 2025 in Manila. Themed‘ Digital Technology for Transformation,’ this inaugural event brought together decision-makers from ADB member economies, public and private partners, to explore digital solutions and innovative financing for digital transformation projects. A key highlight was the Closed-Door Ministerial Roundtable Meeting, focused on enhancing regional cooperation on digital development and sharing best practices, particularly for emerging economies. For CIOs in the region, this forum signifies a high-level commitment to accelerating digital maturity, fostering innovation, and addressing critical ICT issues through collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange, aiming to leverage digital technologies for inclusive and sustainable development.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea’ s SK Group announced a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services( AWS) involving a US $ 5.11 billion investment to build a new data centre in Ulsan, scheduled for completion by 2027. This facility will house South Korea’ s first AWS AI Zone, marking a significant digital transformation initiative focused on accelerating AI capabilities within the country. The 15-year collaboration aims to substantially expand cloud infrastructure, providing cutting-edge resources for Korean enterprises and public sector entities to leverage advanced AI and cloud services. This project is a clear indication of a major digital transformation trend in APAC: the prioritisation of dedicated, hyperscale AI infrastructure to support the burgeoning demand for AI-driven innovation across industries.

INDONESIA

Indonesian data center developer NeutraDC( part of Telkom Group) has partnered with renewable energy developer Medco Power to integrate solar power solutions at its hyperscale data centre in Batam. This collaboration, formalised through an MoU, aims to develop and utilise solar power at the Kabil Industrial Estate to support NeutraDC’ s upcoming facility, with the initial phase expected to be operational in Q3 2025. This digital transformation project focuses on embedding sustainability directly into critical infrastructure development. For CIOs, it highlights the growing trend of leveraging renewable energy sources to power high-demand computing facilities, crucial for both environmental targets and long-term operational resilience within the rapidly expanding digital landscape of Southeast Asia.

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