Government Signs Mou With Microsoft
By Sonia K.

Bandar Seri Begawan – Microsoft Corporation yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam, sealing a six-year partnership that will enable close digital inclusion and technological progress.

Present as the guest of honour at the signing ceremony was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Dato Paduka Haji Ali bin Apong.

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT"), founded in 1975, is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential. Microsoft recognises the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the social and economic development of Brunei Darussalam.

Microsoft will contribute technological expertise, resources, skills and training. This includes a partnership to set-up a state-of-the-art Innovation Centre to access the latest software versions, technology and expertise, and a platform to incubate solutions and proofs-of-concept that will help drive further innovation.

Besides that, other cooperations that might be potentially recognised in the MoU are Local Language Programme, Security Cooperation Programme, Government Security Program, Government Privacy Programme, Solution Market Place Program and Mobile Technology Solution.

Under the MoU, both parties will immediately negotiate potential scope of cooperation in the area of ICT, ongoing collaboration discussions and other areas of possible collaborations in the local ICT ecosystems such as eGovernment, education, software localisation programme, solution market place, human resources capacity building and up-to-date security best practices in the cyber environments.

The MoU was signed by the Director of Information Technology and State Stores, Hj Mahmud bin Hj Mohd Daud, and the General Manager of Microsoft Southeast Asia New Markets, Mr Faycal Bouchlaghem.

Hj Mahmud, in his welcoming speech said, "This partnership is a significant milestone for our operational and development purposes. Learning from the past IT experiences, we cannot inherit the future unless we carry on to think `out of the box' innovation to generate sustainable future. Therefore, it is important that such public-private partnerships be established for us to progress forward, especially in an area like technology where ICT plays an ubiquitous role in any society."

Mr Faycal Bouchlaghem said that the partnership with the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam will help drive closer digital development across the nation. "Technology is a powerful tool, and having this partnership will mean greater digital access across the country. It is important that we work with the government to create opportunities and jobs in a healthy ICT ecosystem."

Also present at the ceremony were Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Pg Dato Paduka Hj Ismail bin Pg Hi Mohamad, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Hj Ahmad bin Hj Abdul Rahman, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Hj Md Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Md Yunus as well as other Government Officers such as deputy directors and heads of departments. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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