Google has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Romania centered on digital infrastructure and cloud computing.
The Romanian government this week announced Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu had a meeting with Google and participated in the signing of an MoU between the Government of Romania and the company for ‘projects in digital infrastructure, innovation, and research.’
While the announcement mentions Romania’s attractiveness for data center projects, it doesn’t provide any details about Google’s plans for the country.
Local press, however, report Google is in negotiations to invest $2 billion in developing data centers in the country. Again, further details are unclear at this time.
"We have ambitious public administration reform projects that involve the use of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, improving operational efficiency, increasing digital security, promoting innovation in the public sector, and adopting the cloud,” said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
“We are making progress in the digital transformation of public services, we are in line with modernizing the tax system to detect fraud and increase collection, and every day shows us how important it is to increase cyber resilience. We also took on the operationalization of the government cloud. Google's expertise and contribution are essential to implement high-performance and safe public services for Romanians.”
The MoU was signed on behalf of the Romanian government by Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digitization Bogdan Ivan.
"It was an honor to meet with Marcel Ciolacu, the Prime Minister of Romania, and the Minister of Digitalization, Bogdan Ivan, to discuss the acceleration of the transformation for public services in Romania and the opportunities to implement artificial intelligence," said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud.
"Google Cloud is dedicated to increasing the adoption of cloud technologies and facilitating innovative digital public services, in line with Romania's objectives of digital transformation and with the targets of the European Digital Decade for 2030.”
Existing data center operators in Romania include NXData, GTS, and InfiniteChain. ClusterPower is one of the largest data center firms in Romania. Microsoft has previously been reported as looking at developing a campus in the country.
Last year Knight Frank data said two new data centers totaling 40-45MW are set to be built in Romania. Portland Trust, one of the largest developers of office buildings in Romania, is developing two sites in the capital city, Bucharest.
