微軟計畫在波斯灣地區投資逾100億美元，聚焦數位韌性

費德里科・馬喬尼（Federico Maccioni）報導By Federico Maccioni

杜拜，9月23日（路透社）——微軟（Microsoft）一名高階主管週三表示，該公司計畫從現在起至2030年間，在阿拉伯聯合大公國、沙烏地阿拉伯、卡達和科威特投資逾100億美元，投資項目包括雲端與人工智慧基礎設施。DUBAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Microsoft is planning to invest more than $10 billion across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait between now and 2030, including in cloud and AI infrastructure, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

隨著伊朗戰爭持續延燒，這家美國科技巨擘正把數位韌性列為其中東地區策略的關鍵部分。The US tech giant is making digital resilience a key part of its strategy for the region as the Iran war rumbles on.

微軟副董事長暨總裁布拉德・史密斯（Brad Smith）告訴路透社，微軟的投資反映該公司「持續建設基礎設施，也反映其在該地區拓展業務」。Microsoft's investment reflects both its "ongoing build-out of infrastructure and also the expansion of operations in the region," Vice Chair and President Brad Smith told Reuters.

波斯灣國家正投入數十億美元發展人工智慧，力拚成為全球樞紐，以協助經濟擺脫對石油和天然氣的依賴。這些國家押注於豐富土地與廉價能源取得便利，將吸引包括微軟在內的超大型雲端服務業者進駐。Gulf countries are pouring billions into AI as they strive to become global hubs to help diversify their economies away from oil and gas, betting that land abundance and access to cheap energy will lure hyperscalers, including Microsoft.

不過，挑戰仍然存在，包括取得先進晶片，以及戰爭帶來的不確定性；其中包括資料中心遭攻擊，例如亞馬遜雲端部門 AWS 位於巴林和阿聯的設施。However, challenges remain in areas including access to advanced chips and the uncertainty brought by the war, including attacks on data centres such as Amazon cloud unit AWS's facilities in Bahrain and the UAE.

史密斯說：「我們正維持這場衝突爆發前已規劃的所有投資，事實上還在加碼……這是一項積極的支出計畫。」"We're sustaining all the investments we planned to make before this conflict started, and we're in fact adding to them … It's an aggressive spending schedule," said Smith.

他表示，微軟在衝突期間一直支援當地合作夥伴，包括提供數位韌性評估；即使在2月28日爆發的這場衝突第一週，微軟也提供了相關支援。He said Microsoft had supported local partners during the conflict, including with digital resilience assessments, even in the first week of the conflict, which began on February 28.

數位韌性DIGITAL RESILIENCE

微軟目前正透過一項數位韌性倡議，協助波斯灣國家強化準備工作與關鍵資料保護等領域。Microsoft is now working to help the Gulf countries in areas such as readiness and critical data protection as part of a digital resilience initiative.

史密斯表示，基於安全等因素，微軟無法提供各國或特定專案的計畫投資明細。It could not provide a breakdown of the planned investment by country or specific project, Smith said, citing factors including security.

雖然阿聯自5月以來大致未遭受攻擊，但其他幾個波斯灣國家仍持續面臨威脅。While the UAE has been largely spared attacks since May, several other Gulf countries have continued to face threats.

微軟也計畫在2030年前，於中東地區的海底與陸地連網建設投資逾4億美元。Microsoft also plans to invest more than $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

該公司也正強化與國家級人工智慧企業的合作，包括阿布達比的 G42。微軟在2024年投資15億美元取得 G42 少數股權，使這家美國公司獲得一席董事會席次，目前由史密斯出任。It is also strengthening its partnership with national AI companies, including Abu Dhabi's G42, in which Microsoft invested $1.5 billion for a minority stake in 2024, giving the US firm a board seat currently filled by Smith.

他說，微軟正與沙烏地阿拉伯的 Humain 和卡達的 Qai 在「其優先事項中的特定領域」合作，並指出微軟不打算對這些公司進行資本投資。Microsoft is working with Saudi Arabia's Humain and Qatar's Qai "in selected areas that are priorities for them," he said, noting that it does not plan capital investments in the firms.

（費德里科・馬喬尼報導；亞歷山大・史密斯編輯）(Reporting by Federico Maccioni; Editing by Alexander Smith)