AMMAN - The government will sign a JD14 million agreement with Microsoft Corporation to provide the country's ministries and public agencies with software and training, a government official said on Wednesday.
During a joint press conference yesterday, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Marwan Juma said a government committee approved a bid by three local companies representing Microsoft to provide software and relevant training for public agencies
"The agreement, which will cover the next three years, is part of the government's commitment to protect intellectual property rights and Microsoft will give us a 40 per cent discount," Juma told reporters at the press conference.
Under the agreement, Microsoft will finance the opening of 100 computer labs in several schools and provide the Kingdom with technical and financial support worth $6 million, the minister pointed out.
As part of the deal, Microsoft pledged to relocate its offices to the King Hussein Park in Amman, Juma said, adding that the agreement entails training for civil servants in order to best utilise the software.
He noted that three local companies implementing the deal currently employ some 150 workers.
The minister also voiced hope that Microsoft will increase investments in Jordan, which he claimed would enhance the country's status as a regional ICT hub.
During the event, he said four-to-five e-government services will be launched this year, stressing the importance of enhancing human resources to speed up the implementation of the e-government programme.
By Mohammad Ghazal
© Jordan Times 2010