Dubai Municipality has announced that it has entered into a strategic long term
agreement with software major Microsoft Corporation and leading computer systems technology company Seven Seas Computers, by which the Municipality and its employees will receive Microsoft products and free software licenses. The announcement was made during the recently concluded Gitex Dubai 2005.
Microsoft will provide 3000 free software licenses for MS Office and the Windows application, to employees of Dubai Municipality for their home use, which will enable them to use the latest & original software and operating system. Seven Seas Computers, a Microsoft technology partner will be in charge of the installation and consultancy services.
As per the agreement, Microsoft will also conduct monthly training programs for the employees of Dubai Municipality on the latest versions of Microsoft software applications, to enhance the IT skills of the staff and improve the overall productivity of the Municipality.
“Dubai Municipality has been focusing on providing the highest standards of service to its customers, and IT plays a very important role in this effort. We appreciate the support extended by Microsoft to train our staff in various software applications, which will help them fine tune their IT skills and in the process develop our range of eServices,” said AbdulHakim Abdul Kareem Malik, Director of IT Department, Dubai Municipality. “Further, providing free software licenses to our staff will encourage them to use computers at home, extending its use to other family members as well.”
“Our participation in Gitex Dubai has tremendously helped in promoting our services to the large number of visitors at the show. It also served as an excellent networking platform for us to enter into fruitful discussions especially with the private sector,” added Malik.
Also part of the Dubai Municipality - Microsoft agreement are the Employee Purchase Program (EPP), eLearning program and training vouchers. The Microsoft Employee Purchase Program offers employees of Dubai Municipality significant price discounts on some of its popular productivity and consumer products. The eLearning program delivers a high quality learning experience to students, using streaming audio and video software demonstrations, hands-on exercises and animations, and courses designed by professional instructors. Further, Dubai Municipality will also receive training vouchers for training on select courses from Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers (CTECs).
Dubai Municipality participated in Gitex Dubai 2005 under the Dubai eGovernment umbrella and showcased a wide range of eServices to spread awareness and promote these services among Dubai’s residents.
The services that Dubai Municipality is focusing on during Gitex include E-Tendering Management Service, Centralised Billing Presentment Service, Dubai Municipality Clinic Health Certificate, Food Control Health Certificates, Food Import and Export and Online Advertisement Permit eService.
