Press Release

Petrolimex, Microsoft, CMC sign deal

Hanoi (March 27, 2009) – The Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation (Petrolimex), Microsoft and the CMC Technology Group signed an Enterprise Agreement (EA) today to provide Microsoft software to Petrolimex as CMC is an official distributor of Microsoft’s products.

Nguyen The Ky, Head of the Journalism-Publication Section, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education (fourth, from the left) and delegates witness the signing ceremony

Under the agreement, Petrolimex will get the rights to use 3,000 sets of Microsoft Office Standard 2007 and its updated versions over the next three years. Petrolimex staff will also have the rights to use the Microsoft Office product at home. At the same time, CMC, with the assistance of Microsoft Vietnam, will train Petrolimex’s staff across the country how to use Microsoft Office.

At present, intellectual property protection is important for every enterprise as well as for Vietnam’s image in the international market. With the agreement, Petrolimex will become one of the first state-owned corporations which pour large investment in copyrighted Microsoft software. This is also a positive move as it contributes to the Government’s effort to develop a sound investment environment, abide by the Law on Intellectual Property and gradually stop copyright infringements.

This a firm initial step for the country to use IT solutions to improve productivity in the petroleum sector. Petrolimex’s investment in the IT sector indicates the corporation’s professionalism in business management and administration to develop into a strong, dynamic and modern State group.

On addressing the signing ceremony, Petrolimex’s General Director Bui Ngoc Bao said, “MS Office is essential software for business administrations. The signing of the agreement with Microsoft through CMC to use the software will ensure safety, stability and increase productivity and enterprise’s time and human resources. At the same time, it also abides by Vietnam’s Law on Intellectual Property and complies with the government’s commitment to the world’s economic integration process.”

Nguyen Trung Chinh, CMC’s General Director said, “Vietnam has gradually integrated into the global economy. Many large-scale groups, corporations and commercial banks have responded to the government’s commitment to protect intellectual property regulations. The positive response is of great significance to CMC to further develop Vietnam’s ICT in raising businesses’ awareness on software copyrights. We believe that Petrolimex’s investment decision and commitment to use MS Office software will be a positive move and encourage more Vietnamese businesses in the future.”

Petrolimex General Director Bui Ngoc Bao, Microsoft Vietnam General Director Christophe Desriac and CMC General Director Nguyen Trung Chinh toast the project

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Petrolimex’s profile:

Established in 1956, Petrolimex is a leading State-owned corporation in petrol, maritime transport, petro-chemicals, banking, insurance and other oil based services.

The corporation’s strategic development is to build Petrolimex into a strong and dynamic State-owned group, focusing mainly on petroleum and diversifying other business lines, including shipping, petrol-chemicals, gas, construction, engineering, and financial institutions. It will also step up its modernisation programme and raise its cooperative and competitive capacity in economic integration in the region and the world at large.

In parallel with developing and consolidating its position in the domestic market, Petrolimex will strengthen its operations in international markets, especially in Singapore, a large global oil market./.