The Agreement, which has been signed by the chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Nikola Špirić and the director of the Microsoft of BiH, Lејlа Zukić-Krivdić, in a presence of the Ambassador of the United States of America, Charles English, reflects the preference of the Council of Ministers of BiH against the usage of illegal software, and a promotion of modern technologies as a purpose of development of the country.
The long-term cooperation in the area of information technologies has been established by the Agreement. This cooperation will lead to a further development of the e-initiatives, cooperation in promoting of computer literacy, and it will also help in the whole efforts to reduce piracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been announced today from the Information Service of the Council of Ministers of BiH.
While signing the Agreement, the chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH has, besides others, pointed out:
"By today's act of signing of this Strategic Partnership Agreement, the previous successful cooperation is being confirmed, a period of using of non licensed software products has finished, and a space for a further successful cooperation between the Council of Ministers and the Microsoft, has been opened. I believe that this Agreement, as a strategic document, can be a solid basis for creation of different annexes to the Agreement which is of an interest for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I believe for this company as well. The Agreement has been signed on three years and I think that after a successful cooperation, there will be moods for its further extension".
“This is a significant step for both the Microsoft and for the Council of Ministers of BiH. I am glad that the Council of Ministers has expressed the dedication to a protection of rights of intellectual ownership, by a total introduction of the licensed software into the state institutions. This move sends a clear signal to the foreign investors that their rights will be totally protected, and they are additionally being encouraged for investments in BiH, especially those investments whose business has been tightly connected with the rights of the intellectual ownership”, the Ambassador English has said.
By this Agreement the signatories have obligated themselves that they will actively support the education of users on the need of using of the licensed software, and a promotion of the efficient application of the laws which are dealing with the protection of rights of intellectual ownership.
“This is a significant partnership and a positive step in direction of better development of the BiH IT industry, an increase of computer literacy and efficient protection of rights of intellectual ownership”, has been said by Lејlа Zukić-Krivdić, director of the Microsoft BiH.
She has added that the Agreement represents the basis for introduction of new technologies in the work of the authorities of the Council of Ministers of BiH, which will be entrusted to domestic computer experts, which will largely contribute to an opening of new work positions in the IT industry in BiH as well.