Jordan Times
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Microsoft to expand
services in Jordan
By Ahmad Barakat
DEAD SEA — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday
met with Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates, who arrived
in Jordan yesterday on a several-hour visit.
King Abdullah said projects implemented by Microsoft and initiatives launched by
Gates in Jordan helped advance the country's IT industry.
He also commended the support Microsoft offers to the Kingdom, especially since
the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) in 2003 with the
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.
The government and the software giant yesterday signed a memorandum of
understanding that "brings the SPA to its next stage and expands the level of
projects and cooperation," according to ICT Minister Nadia Saeed.
Under the 2003 agreement, the government became committed to using legally
licensed Microsoft programmes in educational institutions in line with
intellectual property rights.
"In return, we made a commitment to help the local ICT economy," said Gates at a
joint press conference with Saeed and Minister of Education and Minister of
Higher Education and Scientific Research Khalid Touqan following an iftar
banquet at the King Hussein Ben Talal Convention Centre.
Under the memorandum, Microsoft will expand its services in Jordan and the
region as well as boost the level of investment and cooperation with the private
sector, Saeed said.
Gates, who was briefed on computer applications produced by local developers,
met separately with Jordanian students and CEOs of leading ICT companies in the
Kingdom.
"Jordan is on the right track... This country has made a bet on this and has
stuck to it constantly... What the King told me in 2000 is exactly the strategy
that has been pursued," Gates said.
Microsoft has been a strong supporter of the Jordan Education Initiative, a
public-private partnership to enhance education, and other leading projects.