Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-01
CONTENTS
[01] Greece signs strategic agreement with Microsoft
[01] Greece signs strategic agreement with Microsoft
The Greek government and IT giant Microsoft on Wednesday signed a
strategic agreement offering preferential financial terms for the
purchase of software licenses by the Greek state, free software use
rights for Greek civil servants (including home use) and training by
Microsoft on the use of new technologies.
The agreement was signed in Lisbon by Economy and Finance Minister
George Alogoskoufis on behalf of the Greek state. It is part of a
government plan to promote a new digital strategy in the period
2006-2013 and to forging closer cooperation between the public sector
and private enterprises in the IT sector. Under the agreement,
Microsoft will set up an innovation centre in Greece with the aim to
support the local academic community as well as Greek software
companies in developing cutting-edge technologies and to improve their
international competitiveness.
Microsoft will also set up at least 10 computer labs for the vocational
training of unemployed people, seniors as well as offering scholarships
or free software to Greek universities. The agreement also envisages
the introduction of pilot electronic governance programme and support
of small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The Greek minister urged Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates to
hold a future government officials' conference on information society
in Athens, while stressing that the agreement offers significant
opportunities to a new generation of Greek students, researchers and
businesspeople.
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, right, shakes hands with Greek Economy
Minister George Alogoskoufis in Lisbon, Portugal on Wednesday. ANA /
Joao Miguel Rodrigues.
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