Montenegro signs strategic partnership with Microsoft

Podgorica, Montenegro (27 January 2012) – The signing of the Strategic partnership agreement with Microsoft reflects a strong determination of the Government to advance information society and protection of intellectual property right in Montenegro, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information Society Vujica Lazović said following the signing ceremony earlier today.

DPM Lazović reminded on this occasion that owing to three contracts previously signed with Microsoft, the Government has provided 70 public institutions, judiciary and prosecution office with legal software and the right to use 8.150 Microsoft desktop licences.

The state’s determination to use legal software, he added, is performed through the licence agreement according to which academic institutions, primary, and secondary schools are given licences for only 4% of their commercial prize.

Within the partnership, DPM Lazovic continued, sustained efforts will be taken to develop innovative school networks and transform the education system in line with the technology development, to provide free access to Microsoft design and development tools and free personal e-mail for students.

The agreement is envisaged to provide support to private sector as well. Microsoft is required to organise at least twice a year events where private companies are to be informed about the good practices of information and communication technology use.

DPM Lazović also announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with Microsoft regarding the improvement of Internet security to take place soon.

Veronica Prikrylova, General Manager for CEE market development at Microsoft, praised the Montenegrin Government’s commitment to reduce piracy and protect intellectual property right, by saying that piracy level in Montenegro over the last three years has been reduced by 4 points which is, in her words, a very good achievement.

“Montenegro is one of the first innovative governments in the region of the South-East Europe that decided to implement the latest technology and move to the cloud computing by implementing dynamic data centre”, she remarked. This is going to help to optimise IT resources and is expected to result in savings, Microsoft’s Veronica Priklylova concluded.