Amazon announced at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, that its planned investments in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across 14 APEC economies will total more than $40 billion between 2025 and 2028. These countries do not include the United States.
According to Amazon, these international investments are expected to contribute over $45 billion to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) during the same period. The company attributes this projected GDP growth to several factors: global adoption of its American AI technologies, the creation of high-value jobs in AI infrastructure development and operations within the U.S., and increased demand for American-made cloud equipment and services.
“These investments in APEC economies are in addition to Amazon’s ongoing investments to expand data center campuses in the U.S.—including recent announcements in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Mississippi, Indiana, and Georgia,” Amazon stated.
The company emphasized that its activities will have positive social and economic effects both in the United States and throughout APEC nations where it operates. In particular, Amazon says its investment has a multiplier effect—generating employment opportunities along the data center supply chain, boosting productivity gains, enabling digital transformation for businesses of all sizes, and supporting workforce development with new skills related to cloud computing and AI.
Amazon also highlighted that international investment can help local communities by connecting them with regional supply chains and creating new pathways for cross-border commerce. The company claims small businesses using its cloud services can access customers across APEC countries while technology transfer builds regional centers of excellence.
“International investment is a catalyst for creating shared prosperity that benefits local communities and regional ecosystems and will connect local economies to regional supply chains, generating cross-border commerce pathways. Small businesses gain access to customers across APEC, with technology transfer building regional centers of excellence where innovations solve challenges throughout the region,” according to Amazon.
Amazon further noted that these international projects align with objectives set by the U.S. Administration’s AI Export Program by extending American AI technology globally through secure digital infrastructure. “The intellectual property powering Amazon’s global operations starts with innovation teams in U.S. headquarters, reinforcing America’s continued technological leadership and Amazon’s relentless commitment to lead the way in driving an AI-powered global economy,” said Amazon.
The company added that its international operations are supported by U.S.-based engineering, research & development (R&D), legal, finance, and other support teams—resulting in thousands of high-paying jobs nationwide. Profits from these global activities can be reinvested into American innovation as well as manufacturing.
This cycle of investment is expected to increase demand for American products and services while supporting further advances in U.S.-based technology sectors.
