"The group showed sustained interest in the IT, automobile, pharmaceuticals and engineering tools sectors. They also want to participate in our proposed chemical hub at Haldia. Specialised teams from the group will visit the state now to firm up projects in individual fields," said Sen.

While the Hinduja plans are yet to take concrete shape, Microsoft has got down to project details. In his 30-minute interaction with the chief minister, Venkatesan tabled the company's plans for the state.

The commitment to set up an IT academy to train trainers was reiterated, as was the plan for a Bhasha laboratory to facilitate development of software applications in Bengali.

"The IT industry is growing at a rate of over 120 per cent in the state and we need manpower to sustain that growth. So, we need quality teachers and Microsoft has promised to set up the academy soon," Bhattacharjee said after the meeting. "I have asked them to send a detailed proposal in a week's time."

Microsoft has also agreed to broaden the scope of its training initiatives in the state. "Not just in schools, we want them to get involved in higher education and train teachers in polytechnics, colleges and universities," stressed the chief minister.

The company has earmarked a Rs 100-crore-plus fund to set up such academies across the country and has already entered training mode in states like Uttaranchal, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

"The response has been phenomenal and we want to start it in Bengal ASAP," said Venkatesan, who called on IT minister Manab Mukherjee in the morning.

Mukherjee urged the Microsoft team to consider Calcutta for its third development centre in the country, after Bangalore and Hyderabad. Venkatesan agreed to keep the city in mind while planning the company's next round of expansion.