14 DAY TRIAL // Labeling Russia as a market of strategic importance to Microsoft, the company's Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer revealed an investment plan worth no less than 10 billion rubles for the country. The $300 million pledged to the Russian economy by Microsoft will be made available throughout the next three years and will be focused on short-term anti-crisis measures, as well as on the development of long-term programs and projects. The new Microsoft Russian investment plan provided fertile soil for the software giant to point to innovation and technology as solutions to survive the global economic downturn.
“Technology innovation is an important driver of long-term economic growth. We applaud the vision that Russia’s leaders have shown during the current economic downturn as they have made historic structural reforms that will speed the transition to a national economy based on innovation,” Ballmer explained. “Because Russia is such a strategically important market for Microsoft, we are fully committed to contributing in ways that will help create sustainable economic growth in Russia.”
Ballmer applauded the Russian Government for the remedial actions taken to fend off the worldwide economic crisis, and indicated that the 10 billion rubles would serve not only to take its partnership with the government to the next level, but also to fuel continuous growth in the Russian IT industry. As an integral part of the $300 million investment, Microsoft is prepared to educate an estimate 300,000 Russians through training centers spread across the country. The Redmond company will aim to increase the number of training centers from 60 to 100, and to help a quarter of a million people enhance their IT skills between 2009 and 2012.
In addition to educating the workforce, the software giant is also committed to lend a helping hand to Russian start-ups. Microsoft will support over 1,000 Russian companies with software products offered at no charge. In addition, Ballmer revealed that Microsoft would continue to drive improvements in the education system with Innovation Centers and the DreamSpark Program.
Russia will also be the home for the first Microsoft Technology Center in Eastern Europe. In 1,000 square meters of space, the Microsoft Technology Center in Moscow will offer customers the possibility to access and test drive technologies based on Microsoft software products, or from the company's partners.