A. Armonaitė invites US tech giant Microsoft to expand in Lithuania
Having met with Michelle Simmons, General Manager of the Central and Eastern Europe Division of the US technology corporation Microsoft, and other representatives of the division on Friday, the Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė invited them to expand the company's activities in Lithuania.
"Lithuania pays a lot of attention to the development of digital technologies and innovations, and Microsoft is one of the world's leading digital service providers. Therefore, we see great opportunities for business and the public sector to work together in the implementation of innovations, and Microsoft could significantly contribute to strengthening our country's technological potential with its experience," says Armonaitė.
During the meeting, the Minister presented to Microsoft representatives the reforms implemented in Lithuania in the areas of information resources, open data and digital public services.
The adoption by the Seimas of the Law on Management of State Information Resources has lifted previous restrictions on the use of not only public but also commercial data centres and cloud technologies. In addition to moving copies of critical data outside Lithuania's territory, Lithuania plans to create a disaster recovery environment which would be used for information systems to be restored to working order as necessary.
Microsoft is expected to assist in the safe transition to cloud technologies, as well as to provide insights and share its experience in the development of data classification regulation, sensitivity and impact on business and the society.
The Minister also highlighted the country's efforts to increase the number of e-services and to make them accessible to the widest possible range of people. According to her, more than 8 400 services are provided electronically in Lithuania today, and the aim is to digitise all essential services for citizens and businesses in the coming years. Around €115 million has been planned for the development and improvement of electronic services.
The Minister presented the developments at the Information Society Development Committee (ISDC), which implements the state's information and communication technology policy. The Committee is currently expanding and reorganising its activities in order to achieve efficiency and quality in the implementation of IT projects in the public sector.
Microsoft, the world's leading US information technology corporation, started operating in Lithuania in 2002 and currently has 17 employees.