An Abu Dhabi–based artificial intelligence firm is considering investing in the Philippines, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said Thursday.

Aguda said Group 42 Holding Ltd. (Group 42 Holding Ltd.), an AI development holding company founded in 2018, has expressed interest in establishing a data center in the Philippines as the government moves closer to completing the National Fiber Backbone project.

“So, if you are a nation in the North and South, it was wrapped around already. North Pole to South Pole. And then we have this Luzon bypass, which goes from West to East. If you will see it, it was wrapped around the equator,” Aguda said during a Malacañang press briefing on Tuesday.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier said the National Fiber Backbone project aims to provide faster and more reliable internet connectivity, with an estimated 70 million Filipinos expected to benefit once completed. The project’s two phases cover southern Luzon and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

“When data center companies heard about that, they saw that the Philippines could be a data center hub in the region. Imagine that in the future, we can export AI services because if we can consume AI, it’s like a utility, wherein they count the token that the country is using. And if data centers are located in the Philippines, we are exporting technology. It’s exciting news, and there are a lot of data center locators who are excited to come to the Philippines,” Aguda said.

He said G42 is looking at an investment of around $300 million to $500 million, typically spread over three to five years.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Hussain Sajwani, founder and chairman of DAMAC Digital, at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The discussions focused on potential investments in the Philippines’ digital infrastructure sector, including the establishment of a large-scale data center facility.

Aguda said DAMAC is also considering investing up to $1 billion in a data center project in the country.

“Those are initial numbers. They have to do more due diligence. They have to come to the Philippines, check the availability of land, as data centers also need power and other utilities. We are equipped as we have a lot of international subsea cables going towards the Philippines, from north-south, northeast, and southwest. That is part of the National Fiber Backbone project. So, connectivity is the least of their issues,” he said.