KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Reuters) - Microsoft ( MSFT ) will

invest $2.2 billion over the next four years in Malaysia to

support the country's digital transformation, the company said

in a statement on Thursday.

Microsoft's ( MSFT ) announcement came as chief executive Satya

Nadella visited Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, part of a tour in

Southeast Asia to promote the U.S. company's generative

artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Nadella visited Indonesia and Thailand earlier this week.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) said the investment will include building cloud

and AI infrastructure, creating AI skilling opportunities for

200,000 people, and supporting the growth of Malaysia's

developer community.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) said this would be the single largest investment

in its 32-year history in Malaysia.

The company said it will also work with the Malaysian

government to establish a national AI Centre of Excellence and

enhance the nation's cybersecurity capabilities.