Microsoft announces $1.7 Billion investment in India

coming off age of one of the world's largest markets

[Namaste]

The last few days local media has been carrying news of Bill Gates' visit to India. Most noteable have been the opening of an "India Innovation Centre"; nearly doubling the India head count to 7000 people; and an investment of $1.7 billion over the next 4 years:

[in.rediff.com...]

With a billion people, 300 million middle class, 100 million mobile users and 50 million Internet users, India is emerging and one of the largest market and supplier.

This is the latest in a series of major initiatves in India, some other leading ones have been:

- Googles expansion and opening of 3 offices
- Regular visits by Opensource champions
- IBM announcing increase in head count to 70,000 people
- Major airlines like Continental, Virgin, American increasing fequencies by as much as 15 times
- Korean & Japanese companies announcing huge investments

when does WebmasterWorld start it's India specific forum and hold a PubCon there?

[caran1]

Most of the work will be done for the US and Western World. Internet usage in India (as a % of population) is among the lowest in the world. There is very little India specific content available even low, though we have such a huge population.

[amol_v_naik]

I agree with "Namaste", from my point of view, after 6 years India will be the main playground in the whole world for every type of business. There will be more than one sillicon valley in every state of India.

[Namaste]

caran1, even small percentages of 1 billion people translate into very large numbers:
5% - 50 million - current Internet users
10% - 100 million - current Mobile users
30% - 300 million - middle class.

Definition of middle class by Unilever = owning atleast 2 electric items with one being a television.

Anyway, it does not matter that the investment is for domestic consumption or export. The fact is that it is in India, meaning that India is providing good talent. Also meaning that India is receiving large investments. Meaning the whole Indian economy will benefit.