Reliance Industries (RIL) has announced a strategic partnership with Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) for a major AI-enabled data center project in Jamnagar, Gujarat. According to the latest exchange filing, RIL will develop a data center with 168 MW capacity to be delivered within two years, with an option to scale. This represents the first AI-enabled data center partnership in India for Meta, marking a significant milestone in India's emergence as a global hub for AI infrastructure. The partnership was announced on Wednesday, with Meta also separately partnering with two leading clean energy providers in India, CleanMax and Fourth Partner Energy, to back nearly 1GW of renewable energy. As reported by Mint, the project is expected to be completed within two years and includes provisions for future expansion, with Meta leasing computing capacity and potentially scaling up requirements as AI workload demand increases.
The partnership involves a ₹855 crore initial investment with a specific ownership structure - Reliance Industries will hold a 70% stake while Meta will own 30%. Under the agreement, Meta will lease capacity from the facility, marking a significant milestone in Meta's global infrastructure expansion and deepening the long-standing strategic partnership with Reliance. According to Mint, RIL will provide end-to-end services for the project, including design, construction, management of utilities, renewable power, network connectivity, and managed services, positioning the group as a single-window solutions provider for hyperscale AI infrastructure in India. The facility will be powered by renewable energy and cooled with desalinated seawater, demonstrating both companies' commitment to sustainability. Meta has stated that it will bear the full cost of the energy and water requirements needed to support the facility.
Reliance Industries shares gained 2.4% to ₹1,300 apiece on June 10, 2026, making it among the top index contributors and marking the second day of gains after a nine-day losing streak. This represents a significant recovery from the previous period when shares eroded almost ₹1.29 lakh crore in investor wealth during the losing streak. The positive market response reflects investor confidence in the strategic partnership's potential to strengthen Reliance's position in India's growing AI infrastructure market. The stock has shown resilience despite being down nearly 18% year-to-date, having fallen about ₹283.70 from its recent highs. The partnership is designed to combine Meta's expertise in artificial intelligence models and software with Reliance's infrastructure, connectivity and distribution capabilities, positioning the collaboration as a significant milestone in India's digital transformation.
Mukesh D. Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited, emphasized the transformative nature of this partnership, stating that "This partnership with Meta marks a transformative moment for India's digital infrastructure. Building India's first built-to-suit data centre for a global technology leader of Meta's scale demonstrates India's readiness to be at the forefront of the global AI revolution." Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Meta, expressed pride in the collaboration, noting that "We're proud to be working with Reliance to build our first AI-enabled data centre in India. This world-class facility in Jamnagar will help us scale our AI infrastructure globally while deepening our long-term investment in India's economy." As reported by Mint, Ambani added that "At Reliance, we are committed to building world-class digital infrastructure that will power the next generation of AI innovation not just for India, but for the world. Jamnagar will become a landmark destination for hyperscale AI computing."
The strategic location in Gujarat offers significant advantages for large-scale AI data center operations, including delivery capability, renewable energy, water availability, proximity to India's western submarine cable landing stations and Jio's extensive fiber network. According to Mint, the Jamnagar location offers advantages including access to renewable energy, water availability, proximity to submarine cable landing stations on India's western coast and connectivity through Jio's fibre network. The facility will be powered by renewable energy and cooled with desalinated seawater, demonstrating both RIL's and Meta's commitment to sustainability. The development expands the strategic relationship between the two companies, with Reliance and Meta having earlier formed a joint venture to develop AI solutions for enterprises in India and select international markets. Meta had also acquired a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms through a $5.7 billion investment in 2020.
India has emerged as a major destination for global AI infrastructure investments, with the country attracting $400 billion into its AI ecosystem over the last year. According to Nomura's June 2 report, India's data center industry ranks among the fastest-growing globally and remains cost-efficient compared with developed Asia Pacific and Western markets. India's data center capacity could rise to 7 gigawatts by 2030, according to Nomura, with most of the investment going toward data centers and energy systems. The Indian government has introduced a 20-year tax exemption earlier this year covering hyperscalers using Indian data centers to serve clients outside the country, adding another incentive for companies building AI infrastructure in India. Meta's Reliance deal comes during this expansion of policy and private-sector investment, positioning India as a key hub for global AI infrastructure development.
