Microsoft CEO visit Hyderabad

Steve Ballmer, the high-profile chief executive officer of global software major Microsoft, will be making a short visit to the cyber city of Hyderabad on Monday to inaugurate the first phase of Microsoft India Development Centre's (MIDC) campus, considered to be the largest outside the US (Redmond). Mr Ballmer will be also laying the foundation stone for the second phase.

Steve Ballmer, the high-profile chief executive officer of global software major Microsoft, will be making a short visit to the cyber city of Hyderabad on Monday to inaugurate the first phase of Microsoft India Development Centre's (MIDC) campus, considered to be the largest outside the US (Redmond). Mr Ballmer will be also laying the foundation stone for the second phase.

The first phase of the MIDC campus, coming up in 18 acres of land out of the total 43 acres of land adjacent to the Indian School of Business at Manikonda near Hyderabad, is expected to accommodate up to 800 professionals, sources said.

The first phase, which is expected to have a built-up area of around 175,000 sq ft and is being constructed with an investment of over Rs 50 crore, will help the company shift some of its workforce from its existing leased facilities at Hitec City.

With the expansion of its activities in Hyderabad, Microsoft is said to have cleared the apprehensions regarding its committment to the cyber city, the government sources said, adding, that over the last two years the company's manpower in Hyderabad has been substantially increased to over 1,500 professionals as against 300.

The second phase, for which the foundation stone will be laid on Monday by Mr Ballmer, will also be coming up in the first 18 acres of land. Together, the two phases are expected to accommodate around 2,000 professionals, the sources said.