TOKYO, April 9 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp ( MSFT ) will

invest about $2.9 billion over the next two years to boost its

artificial intelligence (AI) business in Japan, the Nikkei

newspaper reported on Tuesday citing the company president.

The U.S. tech firm will announce the plans soon when

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits the United States,

the Nikkei said in its interview with Microsoft ( MSFT ) President Brad

Smith.

Under the plan, Microsoft ( MSFT ) will install advanced AI

semiconductors at two existing facilities in eastern and western

Japan, the report said.

The company also plans to announce an AI-related reskilling

program in Japan to train 3 million workers over three years,

and to set up a new lab in Tokyo for research and development on

robotics and AI, the report said.

(Reporting by Mariko Katsumura)