Microsoft India has indicated that it is keen to set up its campus in Uttar Pradesh, a major move that will push investment and employment in the state. In case the proposal fructifies, the campus will come up in Greater Noida.

This will ensure employment to about 4,000 people in the state. Rajiv Kumar, Microsoft India’s managing director and UP micro small and medium enterprise (MSME) minister Sidharth Nath Singh held a virtual meeting, in which the plan was discussed.

Sources said that a team from Microsoft will soon make a visit.

According to IANS, Singh said that the next step will be a site inspection by the team both in Greater Noida and along the Yamuna Expressway. “The government had earlier said that it will make it simpler for investors willing to acquire land within 1 km distance on each side of the state's expressways. The company has said that they want to move their North India campus to Greater Noida,” the news agency quoted Singh as saying. “This will be followed by their proposal which the state government will examine,” the minister said.

At present, the US software major has two campuses in the country, with capacities of 5,000 and 2,000 each, in its headquarters in Hyderabad and in Bengaluru respectively.

Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, plans to develop an electronics manufacturing park near the Jewar International Airport.

While the spread of Covid 19 has dented the economy, it has also given an opportunity to India to embark on a massive mission to bring in structural reforms wherever required including fast track approvals for companies wishing to set up manufacturing facilities here, many policymakers felt. States such as UP, Maharashtra and Gujarat have already evinced interest in bringing the necessary changes in labour laws to draw fresh investments in the wake of the novel coronavirus.

Earlier, Casa Everz Gmbh, manufacturer of footwear brand Von Wellx, announced that it will shift its entire production from China to India. The manufacturing facility will come up in Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

Reports have already indicated that about 1000 foreign companies have initiated talks with authorities here to shift their manufacturing facilities in India from China..