Microsoft China's Jinan branch office, in Shandong Province, will be put into operation next month at the soonest, according to the China Business News citing information from the Jinan Bureau of Commerce Saturday.

The move marks the first time for Microsoft to open a branch office in a second-tier city in China.

In October, Microsoft China had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jinan municipal government on the project, and the two sides are now actively promoting it, said Liang Xubin, chief economic manager of Jinan Bureau of Commerce.

Liang did not disclose the project's registered capital, but said the branch will play as a platform enterprise in Jinan which will in no time, attract related firms to the city.

"In five-years time, Microsoft will attract over 40 IT and outsourcing companies to Jinan, creating job opportunities for 15,000 people, and bringing revenues of up to 5 billion yuan ($748 million) to the city," added Liang.

"Inviting companies like Microsoft to Jinan will help the city boost its outsourcing business and may further promote Jinan to be a first-tier city," he said.