Salesforce India Marks Decade of Excellence with Million-Learner AI Skilling Pledge

Hyderabad: Salesforce, the global leader in AI CRM, has officially announced a landmark commitment to equip one million learners across India with specialized AI skills by 2030. This ambitious initiative coincides with the tenth anniversary of the company’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in India, highlighting a decade of significant growth and technological contribution to the region.

The program aims to transcend basic digital literacy, focusing instead on preparing India’s workforce for the rapidly evolving demands of the global AI economy. Utilizing Trailhead, Salesforce’s comprehensive free digital learning ecosystem, the initiative will operate through a strategic network of academic, governmental, and industry collaborations to democratize access to high-demand technical training.

Strategic Pillars for an AI-Ready Workforce:
Salesforce is mobilizing a multi-layered approach to ensure widespread access to training, featuring key partnerships:

Government-Industry Collaboration: Working alongside entities like IndiaAI and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to launch targeted AI skilling programs for emerging talent.

Virtual Internship Ecosystem: Partnering with AICTE to provide students across diverse geographies with hands-on project experience, bridging the divide between academic theory and practical job requirements.

Academic Centres of Excellence: Establishing dedicated hubs with institutions such as the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) to integrate advanced Salesforce and AI curricula into higher education.

Industry Mentor Network: Leveraging the expertise of global partners including Accenture, Deloitte, Grant Thornton Bharat, Infosys, PwC, and TCS to provide structured mentorship, real-world project exposure, and direct pathways to employment within the Salesforce ecosystem.

Building the Future of Global Tech:
Reflecting on the milestone, Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO of Salesforce, South Asia, stated, “India has earned its place at the center of the global technology story… Our commitment to skill 1 million learners by 2030 reflects a firm belief that India’s workforce is not just ready for the AI economy it is ready to lead it.”

Buddha Chandrasekhar, Chief Coordinating Officer of AICTE, Ministry of Education, emphasized the necessity of these partnerships, noting, “Industry-academia collaborations play a critical role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world innovation. Our partnership with Salesforce reflects a shared commitment to building an industry-ready talent pipeline equipped with digital, cloud, data, and AI capabilities.”

By combining academic curriculum integration with corporate mentorship, Salesforce is positioning itself as a central architect in India’s ongoing transition into a global digital and AI-driven powerhouse.