New Delhi: Microsoft has unveiled a USD 17.5 billion (₹1.5 lakh crore) investment plan for India, marking the company’s largest commitment in Asia and signalling a major shift in how the global tech sector views India’s next decade of growth.

The announcement came after Satya Nadella met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss India’s AI roadmap and the country’s widening digital capabilities. Welcoming the move, the Prime Minister wrote on X, “When it comes to AI, the world is optimistic about India! Had a very productive discussion with Mr. Satya Nadella. Happy to see India being the place where Microsoft will make its largest-ever investment in Asia. The youth of India will harness this opportunity to innovate and leverage the power of AI for a better planet.”

Nadella’s post following the meeting set the tone for Microsoft’s long-term approach to the Indian market. “Thank you, PM @narendramodi ji, for an inspiring conversation on India’s AI opportunity. To support the country’s ambitions, Microsoft is committing US$17.5B, our largest investment ever in Asia, to help build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for India’s AI-first future.”

According to the company, India is entering a phase where digital public infrastructure can evolve into full-fledged AI public infrastructure at an unprecedented scale. A Microsoft press release noted that the investment will centre around three pillars—scale, skills and sovereignty—aligning closely with the government’s push to build a nationwide ecosystem that accelerates AI-led innovation and widens access across sectors.

BI Bureau