Tech major Microsoft has purchased a land of 16.4 acres in Hinjewadi, Pune for about Rs 520 crore. This also brings to the fore the company's growing investment in the commercial real estate sector to establish more data centres, development centres and office spaces to accommodate its growing workforce.

Registered in August 2024, the transaction involved the purchase of land from Indo Global Infotech City. In 2022, the company had also acquired a 25-acre plot in Pimpri-Chinchwad for Rs 328 crore.

Earlier this year, Microsoft secured 48 acres of land in Hyderabad for Rs 267 crore. Both deals are part of the company's strategy to expand its presence in India, particularly within its data centre operations. The company's network of data centres are at Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai. Currently, the company's workforce in India includes over 23,000 employees across cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune.

In early 2024, Microsoft launched a skilling initiative in India, aiming to equip two million individuals with AI and digital skills by 2025.