'Microsoft focuses on developing IT skills for Vietnamese people'

Investments of major economic groups in the world into Vietnam, in each field, in each small market - are considered as a signal to measure and assess the dynamics of that market segment. Comparing this "achievement" of Intel with Microsoft in Vietnam in the past year, Microsoft Regional Director General of Southeast Asia - Mr. Chris Atkinson said: between them there is a fundamental difference, and commitment Microsoft will focus on developing IT skills for Vietnamese people.

Looking back on the past year and discussing the plans in 2007, PV VietNamNet had an interview with Mr. Chris Atkinson, General Director of Microsoft Southeast Asia on the occasion of the spring of Dinh Hoi 2007.

- It can be considered 2006 as a significant year of change for Microsoft during the operation of more than 10 years in Vietnam, with events such as: President Bill Gates visited Vietnam, a series of contracts to sell software products copyrighted after Vietnam joined WTO . Do you have any assessment of what you have done and not done in 2006 in Vietnam market?

Mr. Chris Atkinson : 2006 is a great year for us in Vietnam. Bill Gates first visited Vietnam in April 2006. Vietnam also organized a major event for the first time such as the APEC General Directors' Meeting. We are very excited about the changes being witnessed in Vietnam market. Vietnam's economy is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia with great opportunities, and Vietnam also shows good promises for the development of businesses. in particular and the whole national economy in general.

Microsoft has been in Vietnam for more than 10 years, and more than ever we look at great opportunities and feel so optimistic in your country in the past year. Vietnam's economy is accelerating very quickly, and thanks to that, in the past year, Microsoft has been able to take a big step as well as a big motivation to develop.

We introduced Windows Starter, this is a cheap software program in Vietnamese, as well as Vietnamese programs in the Office suite. We also continue to invest in the purpose of supporting the narrowing of the digital gap for Vietnamese people who do not have financial conditions to access technology. A good example is the partnership with Qualcomm to invest over $ 1 million worth of software and cash to set up over 64 Community Technology Centers in all provinces of Vietnam.

In 2006, Microsoft also worked closely with businesses and government agencies to encourage and support companies to use copyrighted software. Our main goal is to focus on helping Vietnam become a country with a healthy native software ecosystem with a fundamental foundation of intellectual property rights. No company can flourish without it and not comply with intellectual property rights policies.

The Government of Vietnam has made great efforts and first steps in using legal software. We appreciate and welcome the leading role of the Government in this area. Companies need to recognize that innovation and development will not be accelerated in a society where initiatives and inventions can be stolen at any time.

From Microsoft's perspective, this is the area that requires a lot of effort and concrete action, and Microsoft will continue to focus strongly in the coming years on activities that promote improvement in this area.

Copyright enforcement - not just for Microsoft!

Microsoft Regional Director General for Southeast Asia - Mr. Chris Atkinson ( Source: VNN )

- And is piracy the issue that you focus most on?

Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest rate of software piracy in the world, and to solve this problem, requires coordination of educational and legal activities. In 2006, the Government of Vietnam made great strides in dealing with issues related to illegal software use.

However, there is still a lot of work to do, and Microsoft is making great efforts to promote cooperation with the Government and the governing body on IT to raise awareness for businesses and individuals in Vietnam about the importance and price. value of intellectual copyright. Without a strong intellectual property protection platform, a software economy will not be able to grow and thus, inhibit the nation's development.

Last year, the Ministry of Finance and exemplary enterprises like Vietcombank took the lead in announcing plans to deploy copyrighted software on their entire computer system. We need to expand this activity and help many businesses to understand how having a strong copyright platform will contribute practically to society, not just Microsoft. This effort requires the participation of the whole industry, not just Microsoft's own efforts. Vietnamese businesses and people need to understand that using pirated software is a bad thing, like stealing other people's ideas and exploiting that idea illegally.

- Microsoft and Intel are both "giants" in the world that are currently present in Vietnam. He evaluated and compared how the recent investment of Intel in Ho Chi Minh City (total value of 1 billion USD to build an ATM factory) with focused concerns (most of copyright revenue) Microsoft to Vietnam market?

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia. I am very happy to see that in addition to Microsoft, other IT partners have also seen business opportunities in Vietnam. Between Microsoft and Intel there is a fundamental difference in investment in Vietnam. Intel's investment focuses on building factories in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Microsoft's investment focuses on developing IT skills for the Vietnamese people.

In 10 years of presence and operations in Vietnam, we have invested heavily in initiatives such as the Partnership in Education (Learning) program in the field of education, and "Unlimited potential" is community program to encourage the narrowing of the digital gap for disadvantaged communities.

Microsoft also develops specific programs aimed at IT professionals and software engineers in Vietnam such as the Microsoft Development Community (MSDN) program. We also organize seminars and conferences to update the Vietnamese IT community on the latest advances in the industry as well as updates on the company's software products.

- The situation of Microsoft software business in Vietnam last year was much better. Surely Microsoft has set a target for a certain level of sales for 2007. Can that be disclosed?

I would like to refuse to answer this question because we are not allowed to disclose the plan and revenue of each country.

" We need to continue living with open source "

- Do you have any concerns about the possibility that Vietnam will develop open source software to reduce dependence and expensive copyright costs of Microsoft? Will the market share be shared, even dominated by open source software?

There is a word that I really admire and believe: " Co-opetition " (cooperative competition). Only one word but it shows both the cooperation and competition aspects. Speaking specifically about open source, we cooperate with them in some cases, and we compete in some other cases. This is a healthy competition and as an industry partner or IT partner, we continue to need to live with open source. Businesses and customers need to self-assess their business performance and value when pursuing a specific platform, and decide for themselves the best and most suitable foundation.

- Vietnam is a developing market, but the price of Microsoft products sold here is still the same as the price in big markets like the US. Two years ago, Microsoft had stated it would have a separate price policy for Vietnam, similar to other countries in the region, but not yet implemented. So, at this point, what is the specific policy, specifically, Microsoft's support for the Vietnamese market? Yes or no?

Microsoft has launched numerous incentive programs and price programs for developing markets as well as other markets around the globe. For example, Microsoft has a very good and reasonable pricing mechanism for specific customers such as teachers and students and students. Microsoft also offers low-cost software versions such as the Windows Starter version for those who have never owned computers.

These are incentives and good pricing mechanisms that Microsoft offers to developing markets, and we will continue to research and exploit more new products and programs that are able to best meet the needs. customer demand in these markets.

- Thank you, sir. I wish you and Microsoft a more successful new year, with more contributions to Vietnam's IT development process .

Huyen Chi ( done )