Microsoft Plans $297 Million South Africa AI Investment (1)

Microsoft Corp. will invest an additional 5.4 billion rand ($297 million) in South Africa by the end of 2027 to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence capacity in the country.

Vice Chairman Brad Smith made the announcement at an event in Johannesburg on Thursday, ahead of an upcoming South African investment conference.

The pledge adds to 20.4 billion rand that Microsoft has already invested in Africa’s most industrialized nation, and should give the economy a welcome boost.

The company said the money would pay for 50,000 young people’s certification exams in digital skills over the next 12 months to help ...