Negeri Sembilan Has Potential As Major Data, Technology Hub With Construction Of Green Data Centre Campus
SEREMBAN, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Negeri Sembilan has the potential to emerge as a major data and technology hub through the development of the Nexus Yang Green Data Centre Campus at the NS Semiconductor Valley (NSSV) Industrial Park here.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the construction of the green data centre campus was a strategic investment in line with the state's high-tech development direction and the government's main policy, thus strengthening the country's digital infrastructure.
He said the project by Vena Nexus, part of the Vena Group, which will be implemented in phases with a long-term capital investment estimated at RM20 billion, was expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.
“The development of this project will provide better opportunities for the local community, including higher-value jobs. When construction is completed, it is expected to create nearly 200 highly skilled job opportunities, including engineering and operations.
"The provision of this green data centre campus coincides with the development of the country's digital technology. The world is rapidly moving towards a data-based economy and artificial intelligence (AI), initiatives like this are very important to ensure Malaysia remains competitive,” he said after officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony of the green data centre campus.
Also present were Vena Nexus global head and Vena Group chief investment officer Simone Grasso.
Covering 157 acres, Nexus Yang is a hyperscale and AI-ready data centre campus with an initial target IT load of around 350 megawatts.
The project is designed to support a variety of computing applications ranging from large-scale cloud computing services to high-density AI technology needs, thus providing capacity to global cloud providers, enterprises and hyperscalers across the Asia Pacific region.
Meanwhile, Aminuddin said the centre would build local capabilities in supporting the global technology supply chain, particularly in the areas of large-scale data analytics, industrial automation and the use of AI.
More importantly, he said, the economic spillover from the semiconductor industry would stimulate the growth of other supporting and complementary industries such as logistics, construction, renewable energy, industrial maintenance, technical training and local small and medium enterprises.
“Through an integrated development approach, Negeri Sembilan is building an economic ecosystem that is not only high-tech based but also inclusive and capable of providing direct benefits to various levels of society,” he said.
He said the development is also believed to be a catalyst for the formation of a regional data centre ecosystem, thus strengthening Negeri Sembilan's position on the Southeast Asian digital industry map, while supporting sustainable growth.
“I welcome Vena Nexus' commitment to integrate renewable energy use and energy storage systems directly with the campus's digital infrastructure, as well as adopting a progressive and future-oriented energy management approach,” he said.
He said the voluntary grid-responsive approach allows for the use of grid supply to be optimised when capacity is sufficient, thus supporting the stability of the country's energy system and helping to reduce energy congestion and systemic costs.
"I am confident that the involvement of the Nexus Yang Green Data Centre Campus will be a catalyst for the overall development of the NSSV, thus emerging as a new pulse for the country's digital and technological economic growth," he said.
Meanwhile, Grasso said Negeri Sembilan has an opportunity to lead in what the region increasingly needs: digital growth that is compatible with the energy transition.
“Combined with the strategic proximity to key locations and the interconnectivity with Greater Kuala Lumpur and the southern hubs of Johor and Singapore, it provides the right conditions for long-term, high value digital investments,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
