KUALA LUMPUR: AwanBiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) has lauded Google Cloud's move to open its first-ever cloud region in Malaysia as it would propel the country's digital transformation journey.

The company's chairman Datuk Syed Naqiz Shahabuddin said upon its launch, Malaysia's cloud region is set to be Google Cloud's 12th cloud region in the Asia Pacific and its third cloud region in Southeast Asia.

"Awantec, as Google Cloud's exclusive managed service provider (MSP) to the government of Malaysia, as well as a Google Cloud Authorised Training Partner (ATP), applauds this major milestone and investment by Google Cloud, as it will empower Malaysia's public sector to innovate and deliver critical new citizen-centric digital services at scale.

"This expansion will strengthen our proposition as an MSP and as an authorised partner of Google Cloud in Malaysia.

"We commend Google Cloud's efforts to retain data sovereignty and boost digital transformation locally with an emphasis on speed, security, and scalability," he said in a statement.

Through the investment, he noted that organisations in Malaysia are set to have stronger controls over data.

Furthermore, the local cloud region is expected to significantly reduce latency, allowing cloud-based services to run faster and meet local regulatory and compliance requirements.

"This buildout will enhance Awantec's capabilities in delivering better customer experiences quickly and securely," he said.

He added that the company's partnership with Google Cloud would continue to enable government agencies to streamline cloud adoption processes and infrastructure costs and take advantage of the latest cloud-based tools and capabilities, such as data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the internet of things (IoT) to elevate the citizen experience.

"With training and talent development also a core part of Awantec's commitment to strengthening Malaysia's digital future, we aspire to help nurture Malaysia's next generation of top technology entrepreneurs and leaders," he said.