Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and key officials here Wednesday to discuss the Seattle-headquartered software giant's future plans for India.

Ballmer, who is on a three-day visit to India, also met with Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran and appraised him on how Microsoft is expanding the penetration of computers in India.

Microsoft is already implementing ambitious projects in India with an investment of $1.17 billion to hire around 3,000 new employees, expand its operation and to develop cost-effective applications in localised languages.

During the 45-minute meeting with the prime minister, Ballmer praised India for the strides it has made in today's knowledge economy and said Microsoft would continue to invest in the country's IT sector.

Later, he also participated at an event to forge an alliance with mobile telecom provider Hutchison Essar to offer mail, search and messaging services to some 21 million customers in India, officials said.

"With India being the fastest-growing mobile market in the world, providing rich set of online services for mobile subscribers is more important than ever," Ballmer said at the event.

"Our alliance with Hutchison allows Microsoft to bring the power of software-based services to Indian mobile customers," he added.

During his three-day visit, Ballmer travels to Bombay Thursday to interact with top Indian business leaders, following which he pays a day's visit to Hyderabad to visit the Microsoft Development Centre.