Microsoft to Promote ICT in Cambodia

KHMER TIMES
SUM MANET

Photo supplied

The Ministry of Commerce, and Singapore-based Microsoft Operations Pte. Ltd. ‒ a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation ‒ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to promote and undertake cooperation in the field of information communications and technology (ICT) in Cambodia.

The MoU covers 10 points and identifies the roles and responsibilities of the two institutions in order to ensure fruitful cooperation. It clearly sets out the intentions of both parties to engage in consultation to formulate concrete cooperation schedules and exercise reasonable efforts and good faith to implement the collaboration.

“The cooperation will better contribute to ICT development and help Cambodians leverage the benefits of technology and software innovation,” said Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak after the signing yesterday, noting the importance of ICT in Cambodians’ daily lives.

“We are looking to benefit from our cooperation with Microsoft in conducting a number of educational, outreach and dissemination events, including adoption of information technology, the promotion of using genuine and virus-free software, education about cyber security, and introduction to the latest information technologies.

“The availability of this technology could only strengthen Cambodia’s ability to compete and take advantage of new opportunities brought about by this regional integration,” he said, citing Cambodia’s Asean membership as an important driver to improve communication and thus remove business barriers.

He added that the ministry and Microsoft will jointly implement the “Translator HUB-Khmer” project, an application intended to overcome language barriers by providing simultaneous online translation.

The ministry is tasked with arranging for the manpower and experts required to upload at least 100,000 parallel sentences, both in English and Khmer, as well as to provide physical space necessary to deliver the related workshop.

The workshops will be conducted by Microsoft, said Michelle Simmon, general manager for new markets at Microsoft.

“Our mission is to empower every person and organization to achieve more and we believe that our collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce will strengthen ICT as pillar of Cambodian development and competitiveness,” she said.

The workshops will focus on teaching students how to use the translation platform to upload Khmer phrases, she said, adding that Microsoft will additionally aim to engage developers, startups and educators in the country, in addition to providing best-practice to government ministries concerning cloud computing, intellectual property rights and e-commerce.