Microsoft Corp is doubling its cloud capacity in China, which will enable the US tech giant to serve nearly 200,000 corporate cloud customers locally in 2018, Alain Crozier, CEO of Microsoft in China, said.

The move is designed to meet the increasing demand from local customers and comes amid rising competition from rivals such as Amazon Inc and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

"We are doubling cloud capacity in China. (When the plan is finished), we will be able to serve nearly 200,000 cloud customers," Crozier said in an exclusive interview with China Daily.