Presidency on X
The company's vice chair said Thursday that Tech giant Microsoft will invest $298 million in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre infrastructure in South Africa.
The multinational announced in January it would provide one million South Africans with AI and cyber security training opportunities by 2026.
"We are investing more money to expand our AI and data centre investment here," Brad Smith said at a conference in Johannesburg.
Smith said the pledge builds on previous investments totalling $1 billion on data centres in the country.
He said the company will also fund 50,000 people to take further courses and certification exams in cloud architecture, AI, and cybersecurity.
At the same conference, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the investment comes "at a pivotal time" as the country prepares to host the Group of 20 major economies in November.
"This to us is such a momentous occasion, to have an investment of such enormous proportions," Ramaphosa said.
The pledge comes as South Africa has come under the scrutiny of United States President Donald Trump. Last month, Trump froze aid to the country over a range of policies, including a recent land ownership law.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were both absent from the preliminary G20 talks held in Johannesburg and Cape Town last month.
"I said to Brad: you are very brave", Ramaphosa joked at the conference, describing Microsoft as "an American company with an African heart".
"The global community is rushing to harness the opportunities AI presents," Ramaphosa said, warning that the technology's use "must be inclusive and equitable and ensure no one is left behind".
Pretoria has pushed for an "equitable, inclusive and just" development of AI as one of its priorities on the agenda of its G20 presidency.
"We are committed to ensuring that the adoption of new technologies catalyses and boosts Africa’s growth and industrialisation," Ramaphosa said.
© Agence France-Presse
