Australian data centre giant AirTrunk has unveiled plans to invest more than $30 billion in India by 2030, marking one of the largest proposed foreign investments in the country’s digital infrastructure sector.
The Sydney-headquartered company announced an ambitious expansion after founder and chief executive Robin Khuda met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the company’s plans to help power India’s next phase of cloud computing and artificial intelligence growth.
Backed by Blackstone and CPP Investments, AirTrunk said the $30 billion investment would support the development of about 5 gigawatts of new data centre capacity across multiple Indian states and union territories.
The company said the proposed investment would strengthen India’s ambition to become a global destination for AI and cloud investment while generating significant economic activity, employment opportunities and growth across the technology ecosystem.
“Today, digital infrastructure is as critical to economic growth as roads, ports and power networks were in previous generations,” AirTrunk said in a statement.
According to the company, the investment is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs across development, construction and operations, strengthen local supply chains and accelerate growth in AI, cloud and technology industries.
Khuda said India had emerged as one of AirTrunk’s most important long-term investment destinations.
“Prime Minister Modi’s vision for India’s digital economy has helped create one of the world’s most compelling destinations for technology investment,” Khuda said.
“India has the scale, talent and ambition required to become a global AI powerhouse. AirTrunk is excited to support that vision through long-term and transformative investment, infrastructure development, community programs and partnership.”
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the announcement, describing it as one of the largest proposed investments in India’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
“AirTrunk has announced plans to invest around Rs. 3 lakh crore ($30 billion) in India, and develop 5 GW of data centre capacity,” Modi wrote on social media.
“Such investments will strengthen India’s position as a global hub for cloud computing and AI, while generating employment opportunities, supporting local supply chains and accelerating innovation-led growth.”
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, also praised the proposal, saying Khuda’s meeting with Modi highlighted the scale of the investment.
“$30 billion — yes, billion — proposed investment in data centres in India. Good one Robin!” Green wrote on social media.
AirTrunk entered the Indian market in April through its acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra and currently has about 600 megawatts of development projects planned across Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. The new investment proposal would significantly expand that footprint.
The announcement comes as India intensifies efforts to attract global AI and cloud investment through policy incentives and expanding digital infrastructure. Major Indian conglomerates, including Reliance Industries and Adani Group, have also announced major commitments to AI and data infrastructure projects as competition for technology investment accelerates worldwide.
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