Microsoft Plans $3 Bn Investment In India To Expand AI, Cloud Infra

SUMMARY

The additional investment is set to scale up Microsoft’s data centre operations across India

The company also aims to train 10 Mn people by 2030 with AI skills as a part of its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative launched last year

Microsoft has also announced an MoU with SaaS collective SaaSBoomi to impact over 5,000 startups and over 10,000 entrepreneurs

Microsoft is planning to invest $3 Bn (around INR 25,724 Cr) in India to expand its AI and cloud capabilities.This also marks the company’s largest-ever expansion in the country.

The investment was announced today (January 7) by Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella.

“India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunities across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly,” he said.

The additional investment is set to scale up Microsoft’s data centre operations across India. With three data centre campuses in place, Microsoft is setting up a fourth one and it is expected to go live in 2026.

The company also aims to train 10 Mn people by 2030 with AI skills as a part of its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative launched last year. The initiative is part of Microsoft’s global skills for social impact charter and the training under it will be delivered in partnership with the government, nonprofit and corporate organisations and communities.

Microsoft has also announced an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with SaaS collective SaaSBoomi and over the next five years, both of them aim to impact over 5,000 startups and over 10,000 entrepreneurs, upskill more than 150,000 startup employees through focused workshops, foster regional development in more than 20 tier II cities, create over 200,000 new job opportunities, and help attract an additional $1.5 Bn in venture capital funding for the Indian AI and SaaS ecosystem.

“Excited to build on our commitment to making India AI-first and work together on our continued expansion in the country to ensure every Indian benefits from this AI platform shift,” said Nadella in a post on X.

Yesterday (January 6), Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Nadella, which focused on advancing India’s ambitions in technology, innovation, and AI.

Last year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son also met PM Modi.