Thailand remains one of Microsoft Corporation's main growth drivers in Asia-Pacific with a strong foundation of outstanding IT developers, says chief executive Satya Nadella.
Speaking at a forum in Bangkok yesterday, the boss of the Washington-based software giant outlined his visions of the group's new computing paradigm in a drive to court local developers and more businesses to build their own software on its cloud and Windows operating platforms.
Thailand is the second out of six Asia-Pacific countries that Mr Nadella is visiting after Japan. He will next travel to Indonesia, Singapore, China and India.
Mr Nadella, 49, is visiting Thailand for the first time since becoming chief executive in February 2014. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates visited Thailand in June 2005.
"With Thailand's population of 65 million, the Kingdom can use breakthrough technologies to increase skills and productivity in enterprises as well as improve the country's education system," Mr Nadella said.
He said the cloud had become the driving force behind the rapid evolution of business transformation, especially digital businesses.
"We are living in the cloud-first and mobile-first era where digital transformation will bring new opportunities to enterprises," he said.
Microsoft has developed a slew of technology platforms for software developers that allow them to create new apps and innovative services on the company's operating platforms.
Mr Nadella said Microsoft had outlined three strategies to build best-in-class platforms and productivity services for a mobile-first, cloud-first world -- building the intelligent cloud platform, reinventing productivity and business processes, and creating more personal computing.
He said the Windows platform is now in use on more than 280 million active devices. This can provide huge opportunities for developers to attract customers.
Microsoft is offering free cloud service access to 50 non-government organisations in Thailand as part of its US$1-billion donation of cloud services.