US-based Big Tech firms are set to invest billions of dollars in the Southeast Asian country of Thailand, a spokesperson for the government said on Wednesday.

The government’s official spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said that Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google and Microsoft will invest a collective total of 300 billion baht ($8.46 billion) in the country, with each firm to invest 100 billion baht each.

AWS last year also announced plans to build a data centre in the country with a budget of $5 billion over the course of 15 years. The AWS Asia Pacific (Bangkok) Region will consist of three Availability Zones, adding to the existing 87 Availability Zones across 27 geographic regions, and will be the country’s first hyperscale data centre.

Chai, who added that Microsoft and Google are also looking into plans to build large data centres in Thailand, said "The prime minister is confident that AWS' investment will enhance the country's competitiveness.”

AWS executives led by Michael Punke, global vice president of public policy, met with prime minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday in San Francisco to discuss current and future cooperation.

Srettha also met with Microsoft boss Satya Nadella during his trip to the US, with the Windows-maker signing a memorandum of understanding with the Thai government to pursue the vision of a digital-first, AI-powered Thailand.

"This collaboration will strengthen our country’s economy while enhancing our digital capability,” Srettha said.

Srettha, the real estate tycoon who was made Thai prime minister under controversial circumstances earlier this year, is actively courting the support of tech firms and also met with short-video platform TikTok and accommodation booking platform Booking.com during his trip in an effort to find new ways of promoting the country.

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