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William Zhang, President of Enterprise Business at Huawei Thailand, stated, “The new power system faces trends such as green energy integration and interactive power consumption. Digitalization and intelligence are key to addressing these challenges. As critical nodes in the grid, substations must be upgraded to enhance overall reliability. The solution we launched with PEA uses optical-visual linkage and AI-based predictive maintenance to enable intelligent inspections and efficient O&M, ensuring substations run safely, reliably, and efficiently.”

Pantong Thinsatit, Assistant Governor for Grid Network Operations at PEA, added, “Digital transformation is essential for high-quality development in the power industry. PEA is accelerating substation intelligence by harnessing innovation to reshape energy services. We’ve deployed intelligent unattended systems in 467 substations, using cutting-edge technology to ensure safe operations. Moving forward, we will push for full automation, eliminate data silos, and integrate smart poles, license plate recognition, battery monitoring, and emergency buttons for rapid, precise responses. This will make intelligent substations central to the energy ecosystem and provide a replicable model for industry-wide digital transformation.”

Traditional substations often struggle with three major issues: limited security monitoring, inefficient and error-prone manual inspections, and outdated cabling that causes high latency and poor stability, restricting multi-service processing and intelligent scheduling. Huawei’s solution tackles these challenges with three core capabilities:

Perimeter Protection—All-Weather Digital Security

Using fiber optic sensing and AI algorithms, the system automatically detects intrusions, links with video surveillance devices, and allows remote verification—shifting from reactive to proactive security with round-the-clock monitoring.

Intelligent Inspection—Innovative Maintenance

Multi-scenario AI inspection algorithms, computer vision models, and cloud-edge collaboration support automatic meter reading and transformer oil leakage warnings, enabling real-time remote management and minute-level fault responses.

Full Connectivity—Comprehensive Sensing Network

Intra-station passive optical networks (PONs) significantly reduce deployment time and costs, forming the power grid’s “nervous system” to deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity for intelligent O&M.

This joint achievement underscores Huawei and PEA’s progress in technological innovation and ecosystem cooperation. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work closely with Thai power companies and partners to accelerate the digital and intelligent transformation of the power sector.
Hashtag: #Huawei

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Under the MoU, Vingroup, Exposure, and the City of Kinshasa, through its relevant authorities, will collaborate to study and promote the procurement and deployment of VinFast’s fully electric vehicles, including electric buses, electric cars, and electric scooters, to meet the transportation needs of the city and its residents. In parallel, the parties will jointly develop a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem encompassing charging infrastructure and after-sales services.

To support the transition to electric mobility, the cooperation will focus on modernizing and greening Kinshasa’s transportation system across public transport services, mobility solutions for government officials and civil servants, and transportation options for the general public.

Vingroup, through its subsidiary VinFast, will provide detailed commercial and technical proposals for vehicle fleets, including buses, cars, and scooters. Exposure will be responsible for developing a detailed preliminary business plan for vehicle procurement and infrastructure development, as well as initiating the necessary local administrative and legal procedures for importation, distribution, and operations. Meanwhile, the City of Kinshasa will review and propose appropriate incentive mechanisms, covering tax policies, regulatory frameworks, and access to infrastructure, to encourage the development and adoption of green mobility. A designated focal authority will also be appointed to manage and oversee the electric bus fleet.

During the initial phase, expected to run from now through the end of Q1 2026, the parties have agreed on a roadmap to conclude formal contracts to operationalize the above objectives. Under this roadmap, VinFast is expected to supply approximately 500 electric buses and 1,000 electric cars for public fleet operations in Kinshasa. Over the same period, VinFast and Exposure plan to implement supply and distribution agreements to introduce between 10,000 and 20,000 electric cars and between 50,000 and 100,000 VinFast electric scooters to the local market.

In pursuit of a comprehensive green ecosystem, the parties will cooperate in developing an extensive charging station network and an authorized service workshop system, ensuring stable operations and convenience for electric vehicle users.

Specifically, Vingroup reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development and positive local impact through knowledge transfer and human resource development. These initiatives include training programs for drivers, technicians, and on-site operations personnel, as well as technical design support for electrified transportation infrastructure. Exposure will undertake technical and economic assessments of the charging network and vehicle maintenance and repair facilities. For its part, the City of Kinshasa has committed to supporting land allocation, identifying locations for charging stations, and ensuring reliable power supply solutions, thereby establishing a solid infrastructure foundation for Vingroup’s green mobility ecosystem in the city.

Mr. Jésus-Noël SHEKE WA DOMENE, Provincial Minister of Planning, Budget, Public Service, Employment, Tourism, Transport and Urban Mobility, representative of the City of Kinshasa stated: “The City of Kinshasa highly values our cooperation with Vingroup in advancing green and smart mobility solutions. This is a strategic step aligned with the city’s sustainable urban development vision, aiming to reduce environmental impacts, improve transportation infrastructure, and deliver long-term benefits to our citizens. We believe this partnership will help transform Kinshasa into a dynamic, modern, and livable city in the region.”

Mrs. Phuong NGUYEN, General Director of Vingroup Africa shared: “Vingroup is honored to partner with the City of Kinshasa on the journey toward building a modern, civilized, and sustainable living environment. The deployment of green and smart mobility solutions will not only gradually transform Kinshasa’s urban transportation landscape, but also create long-term, tangible value by improving quality of life for residents and supporting the city in achieving its future sustainable development goals.”

Previously, the Government of Kinshasa and Vingroup also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore large-scale urban development projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Under the MoU, the two parties will jointly study and develop a large riverside urban project covering approximately 6,300 hectares, strategically located within the capital’s urban expansion plan.

The mega urban development is expected to include residential areas, villas, hospitals, schools, shopping centers, hotels, entertainment complexes, and future government and ministerial offices, positioning it as a new tourism destination and a landmark of Kinshasa’s development. The city is expected to allocate land for the project in accordance with the agreed cooperation framework.

These strategic agreements underscore Vingroup’s international vision and growing global presence, reaffirm its pioneering role in green mobility, and further deepen economic cooperation between Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as both countries pursue green growth and sustainable development.

Vingroup is Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, operating across six core sectors: Industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture and Social Enterprises, guided by the vision of “To Create a Better Life for People”.

With a strong track record, scale, and proven capabilities, Vingroup continues to expand its international footprint. The Group was recognized by TIME magazine (USA) in the “TIME World’s Best Companies 2025” list, ranking among the world’s top 1,000 companies for outstanding contributions to sustainable development, innovation, and global impact.Hashtag: #Vingroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The United Arab Emirates is on course to generate more than one million additional jobs by 2030, placing it among the world’s fastest-expanding labour markets as economic diversification, technology adoption and population growth intensify demand for skilled workers, according to a workforce outlook released by ServiceNow.

The projection underscores the scale of change under way in the UAE’s employment landscape, where public and private sector investment is being channelled into advanced industries, digital services, clean energy, logistics and financial technology. Policymakers have positioned job creation as a central pillar of national economic strategy, linking employment growth to productivity gains, innovation and long-term competitiveness.

ServiceNow’s analysis indicates that the strongest employment momentum is emerging in technology-led roles, particularly in cloud computing, artificial intelligence operations, cybersecurity, data analytics and enterprise software services. Demand is also rising for professionals who can combine technical skills with business process expertise, reflecting the increasing automation of workflows across government entities, banks, energy companies and logistics firms.

This expansion is unfolding alongside steady population growth driven by immigration, as professionals from Asia, Europe and Africa relocate to the UAE for work opportunities. Labour market specialists say the inflow of skilled workers has become an economic asset, helping employers fill gaps in high-value roles while supporting consumption and domestic demand.

Beyond technology, job creation is expected to be broad-based. Construction and real estate continue to absorb labour as infrastructure spending remains strong, while tourism, hospitality and aviation are benefitting from sustained visitor growth and expanding airline capacity. Healthcare and education are also projected to add sizeable numbers of jobs as authorities invest in social infrastructure to support a larger and more diverse population.

The digital transformation of government services has emerged as a significant employment driver. Federal and emirate-level entities are accelerating the shift towards paperless operations, data-driven decision-making and AI-enabled public services. This has increased demand for systems architects, digital policy specialists and programme managers who can oversee complex technology deployments while ensuring regulatory compliance and data security.

Employers are also rethinking workforce structures as automation changes how tasks are performed. Routine administrative roles are increasingly being replaced or augmented by software platforms, while new positions are emerging in system oversight, process design and user experience management. Analysts say this transition is not eliminating jobs at scale but reshaping them, with a premium placed on adaptability and continuous learning.

Education and training institutions are responding by expanding programmes focused on digital skills, coding, data science and cyber resilience. Partnerships between universities, vocational institutes and multinational firms are becoming more common, aimed at aligning curricula with labour market needs. Corporate upskilling initiatives are also gaining traction as employers seek to retrain existing staff rather than rely solely on external hiring.

Wage dynamics are expected to reflect these shifts. Salaries in high-demand technology and specialist roles have been rising faster than the broader market, while competition for experienced professionals has intensified. Human resources consultants note that non-salary benefits, including flexible working arrangements, career progression pathways and residency incentives, are increasingly important in attracting and retaining talent.

The ServiceNow report places the UAE’s projected job growth ahead of many mature economies, where ageing populations and slower productivity gains are constraining employment expansion. By contrast, the UAE’s relatively young workforce, openness to foreign talent and willingness to adopt new technologies are seen as structural advantages.

Challenges remain, particularly around ensuring that job creation keeps pace with population growth and that skills mismatches do not widen. Economists warn that without sustained investment in education and training, shortages could emerge in critical areas, potentially pushing up labour costs and slowing project delivery. There is also a need to integrate more nationals into private-sector roles, a long-standing policy objective supported by wage subsidies, training schemes and regulatory measures.

IonQ has confirmed plans to deliver a next-generation 100-qubit quantum computing system to South Korea, reinforcing the company’s push into Asia’s accelerating quantum ecosystem and extending a strategic partnership with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information. The deployment is positioned as a milestone for the country’s national research infrastructure, giving scientists and industrial users local access to higher-capacity trapped-ion quantum hardware designed for advanced simulations and algorithm development.

The system is scheduled to be installed at facilities operated by Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, which manages high-performance computing resources for universities, laboratories and government programmes. IonQ said the platform will integrate with existing supercomputing assets, enabling hybrid classical-quantum workflows that are increasingly seen as the most practical near-term use of quantum machines. Officials involved in the project describe the installation as part of a broader effort to ensure domestic capability in a field viewed as strategically significant for science, security and economic competitiveness.

For IonQ, the agreement deepens a relationship that began with earlier access to its systems through cloud services and collaborative research. The 100-qubit platform represents a step up from earlier machines made available to Asian partners, with IonQ highlighting gains in algorithmic performance driven by longer coherence times and high-fidelity gates inherent to its trapped-ion approach. The company argues that these characteristics allow useful problem sizes to be tackled with fewer physical qubits than some rival architectures.

The project comes as South Korea accelerates state-backed investment in quantum science. Government roadmaps call for expanded talent development, dedicated funding lines for hardware and software, and closer links between public laboratories and industry. KISTI’s role as a national computing hub makes it a focal point for these ambitions, with the new system expected to support work ranging from materials discovery and chemistry to optimisation and machine learning. Researchers anticipate that local access will shorten development cycles compared with reliance on overseas cloud resources.

IonQ executives frame the delivery as part of a long-term regional strategy rather than a one-off sale. Asia has become a key battleground for quantum providers as countries seek sovereign capabilities while remaining connected to global research networks. China, Japan and South Korea are all funding large-scale programmes, and regional universities are increasing output in quantum algorithms and error-mitigation techniques. By embedding hardware within national facilities, vendors aim to secure early loyalty among researchers who may later influence commercial adoption.

Competition in the sector is intensifying. Superconducting-qubit systems from established technology firms and photonic approaches backed by start-ups are all vying for attention, each claiming advantages in scalability or manufacturability. IonQ’s bet on trapped ions prioritises precision and stability, though critics note challenges in scaling to very large numbers of qubits. The company counters that its roadmap focuses on algorithmic qubits and error-corrected performance rather than raw counts, a metric increasingly favoured by parts of the research community.

The South Korean installation also reflects a broader trend toward hybrid computing. Rather than replacing classical supercomputers, quantum systems are being linked to them to tackle specific sub-problems where quantum effects offer potential speed-ups. KISTI engineers are working on software layers to manage job scheduling and data movement between systems, an area seen as critical to extracting value from early quantum machines.

Commercial implications are closely watched. South Korean conglomerates in electronics, chemicals and logistics have signalled interest in quantum applications, and access to domestic hardware could encourage pilot projects. Analysts caution that widespread industrial impact remains some distance away, but note that early experimentation helps firms build expertise ahead of future breakthroughs.

Under the MOU, the two parties agreed to jointly study and develop strategic cooperation opportunities in areas such as urban development, sustainable transportation, tourism and leisure infrastructure, as well as other investment projects aligned with Uzbekistan’s development orientation, affirming the scale and capabilities of Vietnamese enterprises on the global economic map.

Specifically, in the area of urban development, Uzbekistan is ready to allocate approximately 1,000 hectares of land in a prime location of the capital Tashkent for Vingroup to study, propose, and invest in the development of a large-scale, integrated urban complex. The project would include residential areas, living infrastructure, commercial and cultural facilities, and public infrastructure facilities. The development is envisioned to form a “Vietnam Town”, creating a modern and sustainable urban landmark while enhancing cultural exchange and economic cooperation between the two countries.

In the field of sustainable transportation, Vingroup has proposed studying the deployment of electric taxi and urban mobility services using VinFast electric vehicles in Uzbekistan, together with a charging infrastructure system and support services. The project is expected to contribute to the green transition, reduce emissions, and improve the quality of urban transportation services in major Uzbek cities.

In tourism and leisure infrastructure, the two sides will explore the potential development of integrated tourism and recreational center, including entertainment facilities, hotels, golf courses and related tourism infrastructure, aiming to unlock tourism potential and enhance Uzbekistan’s attractiveness to international visitors.

In addition, this strategic cooperation also establishes a framework for the two parties to identify, assess, and select other potential investment projects that align with the development strategies and long-term priorities of each side.

On the Uzbek government’s side, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade committed to supporting Vingroup by providing information on the investment environment, legal framework, and incentive policies, as well as coordinating with relevant authorities and local governments in project preparation, including land allocation, licensing, and access to investment support mechanisms in accordance with legislation.

On Vingroup’s side, the Group will propose conceptual proposals, technical expertise and investment plans, participate in feasibility studies and project structuring, and mobilize member companies within the Vingroup ecosystem to implement suitable projects in Uzbekistan.

Mr. Kasimov Ilzat Ablaxatovich, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, stated: “We welcome Vingroup’s interest and commitment to cooperation in Uzbekistan. With its experience in urban development, sustainable transportation, and infrastructure projects, Vingroup is considered a strategic partner to jointly explore and implement investment initiatives aligned with Uzbekistan’s socio-economic development priorities in the coming period.”

Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice Chairman and CEO of Vingroup, shared: “Uzbekistan is a market with strong potential, supported by a clear development direction and an improving investment environment. Through this Memorandum of Understanding, Vingroup aims to gradually explore suitable cooperation opportunities and work alongside the Government of Uzbekistan in developing urban areas, sustainable transportation, and sectors that bring positive contributions to local communities.”

Uzbekistan holds a strategic position in Central Asia, with a growing economy and strong potential in urban development, infrastructure, tourism, and services. The Government of Uzbekistan is actively promoting reforms and attracting foreign investment to drive sustainable economic growth and international integration.

Vingroup is Vietnam’s leading private multi-sector corporation, operating across six core pillars: Industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture, and Social Enterprises, with the vision “To create a better life for people”. With its proven reputation, scale and capabilities, Vingroup is steadily expanding globally, contributing to elevate the global standing of Vietnamese enterprises.

Hashtag: #Vingroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Google has committed USD 8 million to support a network of artificial intelligence Centres of Excellence in India, signalling a deeper push into applied AI for public services, health care and local-language technologies while tying the investment to a parallel clean-energy partnership aimed at powering digital infrastructure sustainably.

The funding, announced by Google, is designed to accelerate research, product development and deployment across priority areas that include healthcare delivery, Indic language models and urban governance tools. The company said the centres will work with academic institutions, startups and public-sector bodies to translate laboratory advances into systems that can be deployed at scale, reflecting a broader shift among global technology firms towards mission-oriented AI programmes.

The allocation targets three primary domains. In healthcare, the centres are expected to focus on AI-assisted diagnostics, disease surveillance and workflow automation to reduce administrative burdens on clinicians. Google has previously tested AI models for medical imaging and population health analytics, and the new funding is intended to localise such tools for regional health systems, with attention to data privacy and clinical validation. Researchers involved in early-stage planning say the emphasis will be on interoperable platforms rather than standalone pilots, a response to criticism that many AI health projects fail to move beyond proof of concept.

Language technology forms the second pillar of the initiative. India’s linguistic diversity has long posed challenges for digital inclusion, and the centres are tasked with advancing large language models and speech systems that perform reliably across Indic languages and dialects. Google has already released open datasets and models for low-resource languages; the new programme seeks to improve accuracy, reduce bias and expand access for education, e-governance and small businesses. Industry observers note that competition in multilingual AI has intensified as regional startups and global rivals race to build models that can handle code-switching and local context.

Urban governance rounds out the focus areas, with planned projects covering traffic management, air-quality monitoring and municipal service delivery. Smart-city programmes have generated mixed results over the past decade, often constrained by fragmented data and procurement hurdles. By situating research within Centres of Excellence, Google aims to create replicable frameworks that cities can adapt, rather than bespoke systems tied to individual vendors.

Beyond the AI investment, Google has paired the announcement with a new solar partnership intended to support the energy needs of data centres and AI workloads. The company has pledged to match growth in computing capacity with clean-energy procurement, aligning with its global goal to operate on carbon-free energy around the clock. Analysts say the coupling of AI funding with renewable energy reflects mounting scrutiny of the environmental costs of large-scale computing, particularly as generative AI drives higher power demand.

The USD 8 million commitment is modest compared with Google’s global AI spend, yet its targeted design has drawn attention from policymakers and researchers. Government officials involved in discussions around the Centres of Excellence say the model allows for shared governance, with academic rigour balanced against industry deployment expertise. The approach also aligns with national ambitions to position the country as a hub for responsible AI development, emphasising safety, transparency and societal benefit.

Competition among technology firms has sharpened as Microsoft, Amazon and others expand partnerships with universities and public agencies across the Global South. In this context, Google’s move is seen as both a strategic investment and a reputational play, aimed at demonstrating that advanced AI can address public-interest challenges rather than solely commercial applications. Startups working in health tech and language processing expect spillover benefits through access to datasets, compute resources and mentorship.

Unitree Robotics’ G1 humanoid robots have stepped into the spotlight of China’s live entertainment scene, performing as synchronised backup dancers during a Wang Leehom concert that drew about 18,000 people, marking a striking crossover between advanced robotics and mainstream pop culture.

The performance unfolded as the pop star launched into a high-energy segment of his show, with several G1 units emerging alongside human dancers. The robots executed coordinated flips, spins and arm movements in time with the music, mirroring choreography designed for human performers. Large screens magnified the spectacle, prompting audible reactions from the crowd as the machines kept pace under concert lighting and sound conditions.

The appearance was not framed as a technical demonstration but as a fully integrated part of the show, underscoring how humanoid robots are moving beyond laboratories and industrial floors into public-facing roles. For Unitree, a Hangzhou-based robotics firm known for its quadruped robots and growing humanoid portfolio, the concert offered a high-visibility platform to display balance control, motion planning and real-time coordination in an unpredictable environment.

Wang Leehom, a globally recognised figure in Mandarin pop with a career spanning more than two decades, has long embraced technology-driven stagecraft. His decision to feature humanoid robots aligns with a broader trend in China’s entertainment industry, where concerts increasingly rely on immersive visuals, augmented reality and sophisticated stage automation to differentiate live experiences.

The G1 robots, which stand roughly human height and are designed for agility and interaction, performed without visible safety tethers, suggesting confidence in their stability systems. Industry observers noted that executing flips and rapid directional changes in close proximity to human dancers requires precise sensing and control to avoid collisions, highlighting advances in perception and actuation.

Beyond the spectacle, the performance has reignited debate over the role of automation in creative industries. Some performers and choreographers have voiced concern that robots could displace human dancers in certain settings, particularly for repetitive or physically demanding routines. Others argue that such technology will function as a complement rather than a replacement, opening new creative possibilities and reducing costs for large-scale productions.

Producers familiar with concert logistics point out that hiring and training large dance troupes can be expensive, especially for tours spanning multiple cities. Robots, once acquired, can be programmed for consistent performances and reused across shows, potentially lowering long-term costs. At the same time, upfront investment, maintenance, transport and technical support remain significant considerations.

China’s push into humanoid robotics provides important context for the performance. The sector has been identified as a strategic growth area, with companies racing to develop machines capable of operating in human environments. Demonstrations in factories, warehouses and research centres have been joined by public showcases designed to familiarise audiences with humanoid forms and capabilities.

Academic researchers note that public acceptance is a critical factor in the deployment of service robots, particularly those designed to interact closely with people. High-profile cultural events can soften perceptions and shift robots from abstract technological concepts to tangible participants in everyday life.

Social media reaction to the concert was swift, with clips of the robots’ dance routines circulating widely on Chinese platforms. Commentators praised the novelty and technical polish, while others questioned whether audiences were witnessing a glimpse of entertainment’s future or a carefully staged publicity exercise. The buzz itself has amplified Unitree’s brand visibility at a time when competition among domestic robotics firms is intensifying.

IBM has set out an ambitious plan to equip five million people across India with skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing by 2030, deepening its long-running SkillsBuild programme and expanding partnerships with governments, universities and employers to address widening technology talent gaps.

The initiative, led by IBM, centres on scaling IBM SkillsBuild, a free digital learning platform that blends online courses, project-based learning and industry-recognised credentials. The company said the expansion will prioritise job-ready capabilities aligned with fast-evolving enterprise demand, including generative AI applications, cloud security and the foundations of quantum information science.

IBM executives framed the move as a response to structural shifts in the labour market, where automation and AI adoption are reshaping roles faster than traditional education systems can adapt. India’s large and youthful workforce, combined with rapid digitalisation across banking, healthcare, manufacturing and public services, has made skills development a policy and business imperative. Government estimates show millions of new digital roles emerging this decade even as legacy jobs are redefined.

The company plans to deepen curriculum integration with higher education institutions, vocational colleges and secondary schools, embedding SkillsBuild content into coursework while expanding teacher training so faculty can deliver updated material. IBM also intends to widen collaborations with state governments and industry bodies to tailor programmes for local employment needs, particularly in tier-two and tier-three cities where access to advanced training has lagged.

SkillsBuild offers modular pathways that range from introductory digital literacy to advanced certifications, with content developed by IBM practitioners and academic partners. Learners can earn digital badges in areas such as data analysis, AI ethics, cybersecurity fundamentals and cloud computing, alongside exposure to quantum concepts through simulations and guided labs. IBM said it will add more experiential components, including hackathons, internships and employer-linked projects, to strengthen transitions from learning to work.

Cybersecurity has been highlighted as a priority track, reflecting persistent shortages of security professionals and rising risks to critical infrastructure and enterprises. Courses will cover threat analysis, incident response and secure system design, with an emphasis on practical skills that align with global frameworks. In AI, the focus extends beyond coding to include responsible deployment, model governance and sector-specific use cases, areas that employers increasingly cite as gaps among graduates.

Quantum computing, still an emerging field, forms the third pillar of the programme. IBM operates one of the world’s largest fleets of quantum systems accessible via the cloud, and the curriculum introduces learners to quantum mechanics, algorithms and programming tools. While near-term job creation in quantum remains limited, IBM argues that early exposure will build a pipeline of talent capable of supporting research, hardware development and future commercial applications.

The scale of the target reflects IBM’s broader workforce strategy, which has shifted towards skills-based hiring and continuous learning. The company has previously said that formal degrees are no longer the sole proxy for capability, particularly in fast-moving technology domains. By expanding free access to training and credentials, IBM aims to widen participation among women, underrepresented communities and learners from non-traditional backgrounds.

Industry analysts view the plan as part of a competitive race among global technology firms to cultivate ecosystems of skilled users and developers. Cloud providers, software companies and chipmakers have all launched large-scale training commitments, seeking both social impact and long-term commercial benefits as trained professionals tend to adopt familiar platforms. For India, such programmes complement national efforts to boost digital skills and attract high-value investment, though experts caution that quality, relevance and job linkage will determine outcomes.

Netskope has unveiled a new data centre in Malaysia, sharpening its expansion across Southeast Asia as governments and enterprises tighten rules on data residency and demand greater control over cloud security. The move places the US-based cybersecurity firm closer to customers in regulated industries that are accelerating cloud adoption while seeking assurances on where sensitive information is processed and stored.

The Malaysia facility, located to serve customers across the country and neighbouring markets, extends Netskope’s NewEdge network, the company’s global security infrastructure that underpins its secure access service edge offerings. By processing traffic locally, the firm says it can reduce latency, improve performance for cloud applications, and help organisations meet domestic compliance obligations without fragmenting their security architecture.

This expansion reflects a broader shift in Southeast Asia, where data protection regimes have become more explicit and enforcement has intensified. Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act, alongside sector-specific requirements for finance, healthcare and telecommunications, has pushed multinational firms to re-evaluate cross-border data flows. Similar pressures are evident in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, creating demand for security platforms that combine global reach with local presence.

Netskope’s regional strategy has focused on building infrastructure rather than relying solely on partner facilities. The Malaysia data centre complements existing points of presence across Asia Pacific and is designed to support services such as cloud access security brokerage, secure web gateways and zero trust network access. Company executives have said that proximity is increasingly critical as enterprises migrate mission-critical workloads to software-as-a-service platforms and public clouds.

Industry analysts note that the competitive landscape in cloud security has intensified as vendors race to offer compliant, low-latency services. Global rivals including Zscaler, Palo Alto Networks and Cisco have all invested in regional infrastructure to address sovereignty concerns. What differentiates players, analysts argue, is the ability to deliver consistent policy enforcement across geographies while adapting to local legal frameworks.

Malaysia has emerged as an attractive hub for such investments due to its growing digital economy, improving connectivity and government incentives aimed at data centre development. The country has positioned itself as a neutral base for regional operations, with policymakers encouraging foreign technology firms to establish infrastructure that supports domestic innovation and cross-border trade.

For enterprises, the presence of a local Netskope facility may ease long-standing concerns about routing traffic through distant jurisdictions. Financial institutions, in particular, have faced scrutiny over outsourcing arrangements and third-party risk management. Local processing can simplify audits and reporting while maintaining alignment with global security standards.

The expansion also speaks to changing threat dynamics. Cyber risk in Southeast Asia has risen alongside digitalisation, with ransomware, phishing and cloud misconfigurations posing persistent challenges. Security teams are under pressure to gain visibility across hybrid environments that span on-premise systems, multiple cloud providers and a distributed workforce. Vendors that can aggregate telemetry and enforce zero-trust principles close to the user are gaining traction.

Netskope has invested heavily in research and development to support this approach, including machine learning models that analyse cloud usage patterns and detect anomalous behaviour. The Malaysia data centre will feed into these capabilities, enabling faster inspection and response times for regional customers.

Beyond compliance and security, performance considerations are becoming a board-level issue. Latency can directly affect user productivity and customer experience, particularly for real-time collaboration tools and data-intensive applications. By shortening network paths, local infrastructure can deliver measurable gains, strengthening the business case for in-country deployments.

The move is expected to bolster Netskope’s channel ecosystem in Southeast Asia, where managed security service providers and systems integrators play a central role in enterprise adoption. Local infrastructure allows partners to offer services tailored to national requirements while leveraging a globally recognised platform.