The Economy Minister António Pires de Lima, today highlighted the “big bet” Microsoft Portugal in the country as “landmark destination” for business opportunities in the area of information and communication technologies.
Pires de Lima was speaking at the signing of the memorandum of understanding the technological and AICEP – Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal, under which Microsoft Portugal will expand its support center cloud computing (‘cloud’), which will create 200 direct jobs in the country by next year.
According to the general director of Microsoft Portugal, João Couto, investment is 2, euros in the first year, a total of 7.5 million euros to three years, “mostly in human capital.”
“5 million I want to underline that this Memorandum of Understanding confirms the big bet Portugal as a reference destination for business opportunities in the area of information and communication technologies “, said Pires de Lima.
” The Government has always advocated the need to support “the sector of information and communication technologies , which represents 4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 3% of national exports.
With this signature “give a very important for the formation of human capital and specialization step,” he added.
“We want to compete for the excellence of our human resources, the dynamism and productivity of our businesses and not exactly by the low cost of our people,” said the official, who said it was “time to get their hands on”, . since the economic recovery “will surely continue”
Asked about a possible lowering of taxes in the next state budget, Pires de Lima said:. “I will not pronounce”
The official said that it is best to wait, since “even as ten days,” to “be aware of the proposal of the State Budget that the Government will deliver” and recalled that “recognition that the tax burden is high in Portugal “alluding to the recent statements of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Minister and Regional Development.
” We will see to what extent any tax reduction can be envisaged in the State Budget for 2015 “shortly, said.
After signing the memorandum, John Couto said Microsoft Portugal is satisfied “over this step,” which classified as “important for the positioning of Portugal in the digital economy” and that puts the country “How credible alternative” to the development of a center for cloud computing.
“AICEP have believed in this project,” he said.
Also the administrator AICEP, Luis Castro Henriques , praised Microsoft’s bet, highlighting the “promising technological investment.”
In addition to the expansion of a support center for cloud computing and scheduling services in perspective ‘nearshore’ [transfer of business processes and projects for next] countries companies, serving corporate customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa, the agreement provides for the consolidation of a research and development (R & D) for the technologies of voice recognition for incorporation in motor Microsoft research, such as the creation of applications and competence centers in key universities.
It also provides for collaboration between Microsoft and the Government to develop a strategy for the development of technological solutions, particularly for cloud computing in the private and public sector, and the forthcoming launch of a pilot project – the National Strategy for Cloud Computing (Cloud National) – to reduce costs in technology and increase efficiency, productivity and quality of public services
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