AWS to invest $13.2bn in Australia from 2023–2027

Amazon Web Services is doubling down on its commitment to the Australian market, with plans to invest $13.2 billion in cloud infrastructure in Sydney and Melbourne from 2023 to 2027.

The investment is set to contribute $35 billion to Australia’s GDP by 2027, the company estimated in its latest Economic Impact Study.

The planned investment will support an average of 11,000 full-time equivalent jobs at local Australian businesses each year in positions including construction, facility maintenance, engineering and telecommunications.

Since launching its AWS Sydney region in 2012, AWS has already invested more than $9.1 billion in Australia, contributing an estimated $19.2 billion to total GDP and supporting an average of 5000 jobs each year.

The total investment includes over $630 million in network infrastructure to expand AWS cloud and edge regions across Australia. The company launched its AWS Melbourne region in January 2023.

AWS Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand Rianne Van Veldhuizen said Amazon and its subsidiaries employ more than 7000 people in Australia, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. The company plans to launch a combined AWS and Amazon retail office in Melbourne in late 2023.

“For over a decade, AWS has invested billions of dollars into Australia through infrastructure and jobs, and worked closely with the public sector, and local customers and partners, to be a force multiplier across the nation,” Van Veldhuizen said.

“Cloud computing is the backbone of Australia and its businesses, helping drive innovation across many key industries in our thriving economy. We are committed to positive social and economic impact, investing in local community engagement programs, workforce development initiatives, cloud infrastructure and renewable energy project investments.”

Van Veldhuizen added that Amazon also supports the Australian Government’s vision of addressing the country’s growing tech skills shortage by having 1.2 million people in tech jobs by 2030. The company has already trained more than 300,000 individuals in Australia with cloud skills since 2017.

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