Tech Giant Aligns AI Investment With India’s Digital Mission, Aims to Train 4 Million Students
NEW DELHI (Economy India): Amazon is betting big on India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. The US-based technology major announced on Friday that its planned USD 12.7 billion (₹1.05 lakh crore) investment in cloud and AI infrastructure over the next few years is expected to benefit nearly 15 million small businesses across the country by 2030.
The investment, part of Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) expanding footprint in India, is designed to democratise access to advanced AI tools, enable digital transformation for small enterprises, and build a skilled AI-ready workforce.
Amazon’s AI Vision for India
Amit Agarwal, Senior Vice President for Emerging Markets at Amazon, said on social platform X that the company’s long-term plans are aligned with the Government of India’s AI Mission, which aims to scale up innovation, develop talent, and accelerate adoption of AI across sectors.
“Our long-term goal is aligned with the Government of India’s AI Mission, and we are aiming to bring the power of AI to millions of small businesses, customers and students,” Agarwal said.
“This includes empowering over 15 million small businesses and providing AI literacy to 4 million government-school students by 2030.”
Expanding Cloud Infrastructure to Power India’s Digital Economy
Amazon’s USD 12.7 billion investment mainly focuses on:
- Setting up new AWS data centers
- Expanding cloud regions and availability zones
- Improving computational capacity for AI training
- Developing secure and scalable digital infrastructure
This expansion is expected to significantly lower technology costs for startups and micro-enterprises, while boosting India’s AI capabilities in retail, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services.
Industry analysts note that with rising demand for AI-powered applications—from chatbots to predictive analytics—India’s MSME sector stands to gain the most.
Empowering 15 Million Small Businesses
Amazon said the investment aims to make AI accessible to even the smallest kirana stores, artisans, and micro-entrepreneurs. The company plans to support MSMEs through:
- Low-cost AI and cloud tools for inventory, payments, logistics, and customer management
- Digital marketplace support for sellers on Amazon India
- Training programs to upskill traditional businesses
- Partnerships with state governments and industry bodies
With AI adoption accelerating globally, the company believes India’s small businesses must remain competitive in both domestic and export markets.
4 Million Students to Receive AI Education
As part of its social impact initiatives, Amazon aims to provide AI literacy to nearly 4 million students in government schools. The programme will focus on:
- Basic AI concepts
- Hands-on learning modules
- Ethical use of AI
- Coding and machine learning fundamentals
The training initiative supports the Centre’s efforts to integrate digital skills into school curricula and prepare students for the jobs of the future.
Government’s Push for AI Adoption
The Indian government has been encouraging global tech companies to invest in AI infrastructure and talent development. The National AI Mission seeks to build:
- High-quality datasets
- AI research clusters
- Digital public infrastructure for AI
- AI skilling programmes for youth
Amazon’s announcement is seen as a strategic boost to these national goals, particularly as India positions itself as a global hub for AI innovation.
Boost to Jobs, Innovation, and the Digital Economy
Economic experts say that the investment will:
- Generate thousands of high-skilled tech jobs
- Support innovation across startups and MSMEs
- Enhance India’s digital public infrastructure
- Strengthen cloud resilience and cybersecurity frameworks
- Foster a robust AI-driven economic ecosystem
By 2030, India’s AI economy is projected to contribute USD 500 billion to the GDP, and Amazon’s investment is expected to play a major enabling role.
Amazon’s USD 12.7 billion AI and cloud investment marks one of the largest technology commitments made in India. With a focus on small businesses, students, and digital infrastructure, the initiative aligns closely with India’s vision to lead the next wave of global AI innovation.
(Economy India)
