On a mission to advance the ease of doing business (EoDB) Microsoft agreed to integrate its Generative AI capabilities with Karnataka's single-window system (SWS) on industrial investments.

A discussion was held this week with a group from Microsoft led by President of India and South Asia Puneet Chandok regarding this matter with the Minister of Industries and Infrastructure, MB Patil, the Principal Secretary of the Industries department, S Selvakumar, and the Industries Commissioner, Gunjan Krishna.

Details were exchanged on how the generative AI tools will expedite procedures, hence enabling quicker project execution progress.

According to reports, Microsoft has offered to send in solution experts to look into how AI could be incorporated into the Department of Commerce & Industries' investor assistance procedures. This would enhance the position of Karnataka as one of India's most AI-driven states.

Additionally, reports claim that the tech giant is expected to team up with Karnataka to improve the workforce's generative AI capabilities in the industries sector.

Reports also indicate that Microsoft could partake in the next Global Investor Meet, to showcase its partnership with Invest Karnataka through its innovations starting on February 12.

Among the Microsoft delegation were Sreekant Kurup, Account Lead - Technology Strategist; Sandeep Mahapatra, Senior Account Manager - Industry Solutions; Anish Chandy, Senior Director; and Sheenu Sehkhri, Strategy Head and Chief of Staff, Microsoft India & South Asia.

Earlier this year, Karnataka chose Microsoft to create a new single-window system for a “simple and clear” regime to accept investment applications. This partnership was signed in an effort to replace the current system, which is frequently criticized for being difficult to do business with.

Reforms being planned by Industries Minister M B Patil, which include setting up a new investment promotion agency headed by a veteran of the industry, will be connected to the new software system.

According to a notification released by the finance department, Microsoft has actually been tasked with creating a “state-of-the-art” single-window system at a cost of Rs 11.80 crore without going through a competitive procedure.

Karnataka has been working to simplify the process of investing. For instance, the affidavit-based clearance (ABC) system, introduced by the government in 2020–21, allows enterprises to begin operations while providing a three-year window.

Under the Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Karnataka currently has a single-window system for company approvals. However, one complaint is that there are numerous doorways from the one window.