26 February 2009
Tunis — Microsoft launched its "BizSpark" initiative in the southern city of Gafsa, in Tunisia, on Tuesday. The program which aims at supporting ICT start ups , to create new software and web design has already been launched in several countries throughout the world, including in Jordan.
Launching the program, Mr Walid Abu- Hadhba, Microsoft vice- president in charge of group development, said that the choice of Tunisia, and especially the city of Gafsa, shows that Tunisia's technological achievements have attracted the attention of international ICT companies.
He added that "an unprecedented and unique governmental support to anchor economic culture as well as the financing of high added value projects, and the attraction of young Tunisians to ICT professions, are the main assets which have qualified Tunisia , to benefit from the "BizSpark" program", he said.
On her part, Mrs Salwa Smaoui, Microsoft executive director for Tunisia said that the program will enable Tunisia ICT start ups to have access to technological platforms at little cost, thus saving precious financial resources.
The program will be carried out in collaboration with the ministry of communication technologies, the ministry of industry, energy and small and medium enterprises, the ministry of higher education and scientific research, the ministry of employment and professional training, as well as with the partnership of the Gafsa Phosphates company (CPG), and the Arab Tunisian Bank (ATB).
In 2007, President Ben Ali met with Mr Steve Balmer, Microsoft's CEO in Tunis . Several partnership agreements between Tunisia and Microsoft were signed following the meeting.
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