Ibm To Help Thailand Develop It Expertise

[george]

IBM to help Thailand develop IT expertise

BANGKOK: -- IBM, a leading American information technology firm, will help Thailand train local IT experts for Thailand to become a major international computer outsourcing centre, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula.

IBM executive vice president Nicholas Donofrio led a group of IBM executives to meet the Deputy Prime Minister at Government House Friday.

Pridiyathorn told reporters afterwards that the IBM executives signed agreements on education support and techical service focusing on IT.

Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, a semi-autonomous institute established within Thammasat University, would be the centre of cooperation with eight universities to develop curriculum for Thai students, he said.

"The world is becoming IT- and technology-oriented. Thailand must prepare to face the new challenge by learning to manage and provide IT services," he said.

Meanwhile, Pridiyathorn said, the National Science and Technology Development Board (NSTDA), Software Park and Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology will cooperate with IBM to set up an IT research centre.

Thai students will be sent to learn IT with IBM under an exchange programme. At the same time, IBM would assign experts to Thailand to help conduct research at the centre.

With the cooperation, Pridiyathorn said he hoped Thailand could develop human resources in the IT field.

"In the near future, Thailand can be an IT oursourcing centre just like India and Vietnam", he added.

--TNA 2007-02-02