Vietnam Bussiness Forum correspondent in Ho Chi Minh City has an interview with Mr. Christopher Desriac - Chief Representative of Microsoft in Vietnam - on the development of Vietnam's information technology (IT) and Microsoft's orientation in Vietnam in the coming time.
Could you please give us your comments on the development of Vietnam's information technology in 2005?
I realise that the Government of Vietnam has paid great attention to the development and application of information technology. Laws on Intellectual Property Rights, E-commerce and Information Technology passed by Vietnam National Assembly have created a transparent legal framework facilitating all business activities, IT market development and research as well as boosting applications of information technology to all social fields. The Prime Minister has approved The Strategy on Information Technology till 2010 and vision to 2020. This is a good opportunity for the Government coordinating with agencies and enterprises to carry out concrete programs on information technology development and application.
Numerous programs carried out by enterprises and organisations to provide computers with reasonable prices and packaged software solution to enterprises, which help them well and more effectively equipped with information technology, is seen as a good sign.
Domestic software market and export have seen a good start with contracts signed with some American and Japanese companies, which shows a right orientation in the development of Vietnam's software industry.
Has Microsoft had any significant activity contributing to Vietnam's information technology development last year?
In March, 2005 Microsoft and the Ministry of Post & Telematics signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote a variety of activities boosting the development of Vietnam's information technology, both quantity and quality. In April 2005 Microsoft made public the Vietnamese Versions of Windows XP and Office 2003 in order to help customers and computer users in Vietnam better access to information technology via general schemes.
In June, 2005 Microsoft signed two memoranda of understanding, one with the Ministry of Education and Training to facilitate Vietnamese teachers and students' accessibility to the most advanced information technology via PIL program (a partner in education) and one with VCCI to promote the application of information technology and information communication transmission to Vietnam's enterprises.
In addition, we have many activities supporting Vietnamese poor children via the annual Unlimited Potential scheme namely the construction of computer room, reading room, Internet accessing room etc.
What are the most obstacles that Microsoft faces in its operation in Vietnam?
The first challenge we face is how to give market-accepted solutions in such a developing country. The second is copyright violation. In long term, we are optimistic about our operation in Vietnam thanks to many recent changes especially in this context Vietnam is going to become a member of WTO.
Which programs Microsoft will launch to make information technology more and more universal in Vietnam in 2006?
Microsoft always considers Vietnam a potential market. Therefore, Microsoft's leaders pay great attention to cooperation programs with Vietnam with a view to narrowing digital divide gap among countries worldwide initiated by Bill Gates. We will make public Vietnamese Version in 2006, including the majority of basic programs of Windows XP Home & Pro provided to the first computer users. In addition, this vision has a support system including directions presented under lessons and video to help familiarizing with keyboard, cursor etc.
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