Malaysia is on track to secure over $40 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) and data center investment by 2030, a new research from global talent solutions partner Robert Walters showed Wednesday.

The firm said in a statement that driven by major hyper scalers and global technology companies, this capital is set to position Malaysia as Southeast Asia’s leading AI data center hub, expanding the country’s role in high-value offshoring.

The Robert Walters Market Intelligence team forecasts that this investment will fuel a surge in demand across the offshoring sector, with hiring for cloud and data center operations, cloud engineering, data science and analytics, and cybersecurity expected to rise sharply between 2025 and 2027.

“Our latest research underscores Malaysia’s rapidly evolving role as a strategic offshoring location,

“The combination of high-value technology hiring, steady demand for support functions, and a projected $40 billion in AI data center investment sets the stage for the country to attract significant regional and global business operations,” said Phill Brown, Head of Market Intelligence at Robert Walters.

According to the statement, this growth trajectory is reinforced by the Malaysian government’s National AI Action Plan 2026 – 2030, alongside recent figures showing MYR 13.29 billion ($3.15 billion) in approved AI-sector investment in the first half of 2025 alone, with the potential to create approximately 6,920 new jobs.

Much of this activity is centered around Negeri Sembilan High Tech Industrial Park, which is emerging as a strategic location for AI development in Malaysia.

“The findings reflect a significant shift in the global offshoring landscape. While previously focused on cost savings and volume, today’s strategies increasingly prioritise capability, quality, and resilience by tapping into highly skilled international workforces,

“Strong English proficiency, technical expertise, and a growing focus on future-ready skills position Malaysia as a compelling offshoring destination for companies looking to scale operations and tap into AI-driven opportunities across Southeast Asia,” said David Barr, Chief Executive Officer of Outsourcing at Robert Walters.

As businesses re-evaluate global workforce strategies, the statement noted that Malaysia stands out for its well-established infrastructure and breadth of expertise across knowledge-based services.

The trend is part of a broader evolution in offshoring, where companies are increasingly decentralizing high-value operations to locations with strong talent pools and supportive business environments.

These findings are part of Robert Walters’ latest market intelligence on offshoring and global talent trends.

The analysis was compiled from all publicly announced AI and data center investments in Malaysia between 2023 and 2025, drawing on company press releases, loan agreements, and filings with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

The total investment figure includes committed and announced projects; planned projects; contracted projects with undisclosed values.

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