APEC & Microsoft Sign MOU to Develop Information Management Portal
Microsoft makes in-kind donation of US$500,000 to support project to enhance collaboration amongst members of APEC
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat and Microsoft today signed a memorandum of understanding for
the development of the APEC Information Management Portal.
The portal provides a web-based integrated platform for creating and managing projects, meetings and policy initiatives,
thereby enhancing APEC productivity and organizational effectiveness. The system includes a Less Paper Meeting System.
The portal is expected to improve collaboration capacity and knowledge sharing between APEC Member Economies and private
sector representatives involved in APEC's work.
"We are very excited about this technology partnership with Microsoft, as we strive to use information technology to
keep the APEC process efficient and effective without adding additional complexity or costs to the forum," said
Ambassador Choi Seok Young, 2005 Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat when he signed the MOU.
"APEC's Member Economies recognize that information and communications technologies are having a significant impact on
economic development and social activities in our region."
Ambassador Tran Trong Toan, the 2006 APEC Secretariat Executive Director, similarly welcomed the newly forged
collaboration with Microsoft as a strong example of public/private partnership and a demonstration of APEC's commitment
to technology initiatives that advance the socio-economic environment in the Asia Pacific.
"Appropriate infrastructure and policies on IT, together with human resource and development cooperation strategies, are
preconditions to move APEC towards a knowledge-based economy," said Ambassador Toan.
"The APEC forum welcomes Microsoft's support in achieving our vision for the Asia-Pacific,"
Commenting on the APEC partnership, Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President for
Advanced Strategies and Policies said: "Microsoft enjoys a strong relationship with governments around the world
including across the APEC region."
"We look forward to working with APEC to address its IT needs in a manner that delivers value to the organization and
its Member Economies," said Mr Mundie.
He added that "At Microsoft, we are committed to building public/private partnerships worldwide to develop and deliver
technology and solutions that will help people achieve their personal and professional goals."
Under the terms of the MOU signed by the Secretariat on behalf of the APEC forum, Microsoft is providing in-kind
support, comprising software and technical support, worth US$500,000 to APEC for the implementation of the integrated
portal. atQuest Solution (www.atquest.com), a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a Southeast Asia based company with
offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand is implementing the integrated portal solution.
Mr Mundie is in Korea attending the APEC CEO Summit as a delegate and is also participating in a plenary discussion at
the summit focused on the capacity of ICTs to advance a knowledge-based economy. He will be meeting with senior
government and business leaders during his trip to Korea.
APEC has significantly expanded its IT-related activities in recent years. Changes in the global economy have led APEC
to develop a range of strategies to increase the capacity of members to fully tap into the benefits of the digital
economy. "Toward that end," Choi noted, "APEC members have agreed to work together to support principles of technology
choice in a market-opening, trade liberalizing manner that will spur the cycle of innovation and opportunity and promote
economic development across the region."