Second Microsoft Accelerating Asia Pacific 2011 Summit opens

The technologies have been combined of Microsoft’s technology and local partnerships.

Microsoft’s impact in Asia is already immense – companies in the Microsoft ecosystem generated nearly $125 billion in revenues and employed close to three million people in 2009. For every dollar of Microsoft revenue in the region, companies in the ecosystem will gain $10.97, according to a 2009 study by IDC.

“Accelerating Asia Pacific is a unique conference that offers an insight into a seldom seen aspect of technology, one where it has far-reaching consequences—from impacting national policies to enhancing a person’s employability, moving beyond the commonplace conversations of how technology benefits for-profit organisations,” said Hai Nguyen, eDT Company director.

The two day summit include speakers from Microsoft such as Lori Harnick, the worldwide head of Citizenship, Lynne Stockstad, general manager of Worldwide Public Sector and Akhtar Badshah, senior director of Microsoft Community Affairs; as well as speakers from organisations like TechSoup Asia, the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) of Thailand, the AbleGamers Foundation, and many others.

With Malaysia rising five spots to place 21st in the 2011 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index and Asia continuing its upsurge in becoming a global economic powerhouse, remarkable progress has been made in improving the living standards of people throughout the region.

However, Asia still has the highest number of people in poverty – almost 40 million people in the region have an income of less than $1.25 a day. Against this backdrop of brisk yet uneven economic growth, continued success depends on removing technological and infrastructural impediments to progress.

“Microsoft’s Citizenship efforts are grounded in our belief in the magic of software to accelerate change and transform lives around the region. Microsoft, through its people, partnerships and technology, has been, and will continue to be region’s trusted and long-term partner in accelerating the countries towards its full potential by advancing economic, social and environmental progress,” said Clair Deevy, Citizenship Lead, Microsoft Asia Pacific.