Microsoft announces Chinese investments

The Inquirer ^ | 2002-06-27 | Paul Hales

[Lorenb420]

MICROSOFT to set to invest $750 million in China over the next three years in a deal outlined today. Chief executive Steve Ballmer signed a memorandum of understanding with China's State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) during a two-day visit this week, Reuters reports.

Ballmer told reporters the deal with China covers a "wide variety of fronts: outsourcing, exports, local training, development, just to name a few."

"We want the Chinese industry to grow, " said Balmer. "The success of Microsoft in every market, including China's, is highly dependent upon the growth of local industry. What's good for the local industry in every country is good for Microsoft."

Microsoft also announced a 200 million yuan ($24 million) three-year investment in Chinese educational and research institutions, and a $480,000 bung to set up a software college in Shanghai.

Quizzed as to whether Microsoft was relaxing its stance on software piracy in China in light of this deal, Balmer said, "Certainly software piracy rates in China are high, but there is nothing in the agreement specifically around that."

"As the Chinese government focuses in on the development of the local IT industry and its ability to export, having a good domestic market for those local Chinese companies to do intellectual property development is even more important," he said. "I think that is as clearly understood by Premier Zhu (Rongji) and the senior people I've met with as anything is."

[DoughtyOne]

the Case of the Freeper FRiva Feva is under scrutiny - super-sleuths are welcomed
come resolve the way to yesterday's Target Post, you're not out of the running yet
win your registration fees to the FRive Las Vegas Conference if you dare