(Bloomberg) — Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella is scheduled to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday, becoming the latest U.S. business leader to visit Southeast Asia as the region launches into a frenzy technological investment.
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Minister of Information and Communications Budi Arie Setiadi confirmed the meeting in a text message on Monday. Indonesia needs to develop its technology sector and the meeting is expected to be beneficial for the country, he said.
The world’s biggest technology companies view Southeast Asia as a growth market and a potential location for more of their operations, especially as tensions between Beijing and Washington remain high. Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook visited Indonesia this month and touted the possibility of manufacturing some of its gadgets in the country.
Microsoft, the world’s most valuable company, is banking on new technologies such as generative artificial intelligence to expand its products and services. Lower-cost regions such as Southeast Asia could provide it with the labor and talent pool needed to develop such offerings.
After Indonesia, Nadella is expected to travel to Thailand and Malaysia to attend corporate events on AI technologies.
–With the help of Faris Mokhtar and Chandra Asmara.
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