SBI Holdings plans to acquire up to 35% in FPT Smart Cloud Japan, a new data center venture by Vietnamese technology company FPT, as artificial intelligence drives demand for computing power in Asia’s second-largest economy, Nikkei reported.
The Japanese financial group will decide by end-January on its investment in the venture, which plans to launch cloud services next month using Nvidia-powered servers. The move marks SBI’s first foray into AI-focused data centers, expanding beyond its existing data center operations through its BITS subsidiary.
FPT, which reported $2.1 billion in revenue last year and employs 80,000 people, has committed $200 million to develop its AI business in Japan. The Vietnamese tech firm selected Japan as its first overseas market for expansion, citing strong demand for generative AI services.
The company currently operates four data centers in Vietnam – two each in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It plans to establish an AI research facility in Vietnam through a partnership with Nvidia.
SBI’s potential investment aligns with its strategy to support the development of semiconductor-related businesses in Japan, as the company anticipates wider adoption of AI technologies across industries.
