Bengaluru, Jan 7 (NationPress) As India takes significant steps towards its artificial intelligence (AI) future, Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, announced a groundbreaking $3 billion investment for enhancing cloud and AI infrastructure in the nation over the upcoming two years.

This financial commitment is aimed at propelling AI innovation in India, which is essential for realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming the country into a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.

The tech powerhouse also plans to train and skill 10 million individuals in AI by the year 2030. So far, Microsoft has already equipped 2.4 million Indians, including civil servants, university students, and individuals with disabilities, with essential AI skills.

“India is swiftly emerging as a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunities throughout the nation. The investments in infrastructure and skill development we are announcing today underscore our commitment to making India AI-first and will help ensure that individuals and organizations nationwide reap significant benefits,” stated Nadella.

On the previous day, PM Modi met with Nadella, expressing his satisfaction upon learning about the tech giant’s ambitious expansion and investment strategies in the country.

At a recent event, Microsoft Research Lab unveiled an ‘AI Innovation Network’, a pioneering initiative aimed at hastening the transition from research to practical business solutions.

Additionally, Microsoft has partnered with SaaSBoomi to advance India’s AI and SaaS ecosystem towards a trillion-dollar economy, with the goal of impacting over 5,000 startups and 10,000 entrepreneurs, thus creating more than 200,000 new job opportunities.

In the past year, Microsoft has been instrumental in making AI a reality in India, bridging the gap from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers.

“Today’s announcement reinforces our confidence in India’s potential and our determination to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills necessary for success in the global market,” commented Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia.

The company plans to extend its cloud and AI infrastructure across data center campuses throughout the nation. Currently, Microsoft operates three data center regions in India, with a fourth set to go live in 2026.

This investment is intended to cultivate a scalable AI computing ecosystem to satisfy the increasing needs of India’s rapidly growing AI startups and research community, as stated by the company.

Moreover, the firm announced its next objective: to equip an additional 10 million Indians with critical AI skills by 2030.

Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, emphasized that India’s dynamic youth and tech talent are vital for shaping the future of AI.

“Through the ‘AI for India’ initiative, we aspire to empower citizens with advanced AI skills, drive innovation, create jobs, and bridge the digital divide. Collaborations with global leaders like Microsoft and similar companies are essential for this transformation,” the minister remarked.