The Information Technology Authority (ITA) introduced yesterday the Microsoft License Agreement 2015-2018 to the government entities aiming at providing 90 government organizations with the latest Microsoft software solutions and technologies.
The agreement is in cooperation with ITA, Microsoft Corporation and Exceed IT Services which is the company responsible for implementing the agreement.  The event was held under the patronage of Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA and in the presence of Sheikh Saif Al Hosni, Business Development Manager for Microsoft Oman and Mr. Fawzi Hamed Al Harrasi, CEO of Exceed.
Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA comments: “This agreement is very important to the government entities in the Sultanate where necessary licenses for Microsoft software used at the government institutions to contribute to the improvement of the ongoing efforts led by the government against cybercrimes and electronic piracy as per the international conventions.”
This event comes to highlight more details on the recent renewal of Microsoft Licensing Agreement which seeks to upgrade Microsoft licensing for the government institutions. The upgrade includes 36,000 windows operating systems and office applications to the latest versions. Around 90 government entities are participating in this agreement in which they will get benefits divided into different categories including: entrepreneurship, capacity building, and business development. The renewal also to provide good opportunities for the government employees in terms of training, cybersecurity, hacking and other benefits necessary for them to get aligned with the new IT trends . Microsoft will also support ICT SMEs as well as to support the ongoing Government eTransformation Plan.
Al Ruzaiqi adds: “The agreement will also contribute to providing a good number of specialized training opportunities to government employees designed to develop professional skills in the use of such software and licenses. This is in addition to supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMES) operating in the field of information and communication technology (ICT).”
Based on the agreement, Microsoft will boost the Specialized IT training project currently underway by ITA including an advanced training sessions for the government employees and IT graduates. This is in addition to providing 30 travel opportunities for government employees to attend TECH ED conference which is organized by Microsoft to foster their IT set skills and capabilities.
The agreement also indicates that Microsoft will provide job seekers a training program through the implementation of training seminars on Microsoft technologies as well as active participation to other projects. This program is part of the agreement; aiming to provide 80 fresh graduates with the theoretical and practical experience in IT to be ready to join the labor market.