Kabir said in an exclusive interview with The Nation that Myanmar plays a key role in the company’s strategy for expansion in emerging markets in Asia. 

“Myanmar is an important market for us because we have witnessed the technology adoption here which is much faster than some of the other countries I manage,” she said.

“More importantly, the customers in Myanmar are very sophisticated. They are willing and curious to learn more about what technology can do to help them grow.”

According to the executive, a lot of big players in the banking and construction sectors have been using Microsoft’s products and offerings, and education, health and agriculture are the most promising sectors that will drive the company’s growth in Myanmar.

“We are actually very encouraging to see how companies in Myanmar are willing to embrace the digital transformation journey with us. We are seeing a lot of interest, and are very excited about what we see here,” she said.

“We are targeting the private sector a lot, and are also talking to the government. 

The journey begins with where you are now, and where you want to be. 

The government is actually very engaged with Microsoft, and we are really happy with our engagements. We are talking about offering products and services to the government, and they are receptive to our ideas. Hopefully, good news is coming soon”, she said. 

According to Kabir, the company is in the stage of finalising its discussions with the government. 

“I am very pleasantly surprised and happy to see how Myanmar is embracing technology. We have big companies as our customers. We have banks, we have the government, and we have groups of companies that are all engaged with Microsoft on digital transformation,” she said.

This week, the company officially launched its Microsoft 365 (M365), a cloud offering service combining licences for Office 365, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility and Security to deliver a cost-effective, more convenient solution for businesses. By enabling the turnkey solutions in their workplaces, businesses in Myanmar can enable their employees to be more creative, efficient, productive and collaborative in a secure environment, she said.

“We see that there is a huge return of investment for the companies that invest in M365. We have different pricing for different levels and different organisations. It depends on the configuration,” she said. 

During the interview, Kabir stressed the importance of digital transformation for Myanmar, and the impact this will have for the nation’s growth. She said the company is not worried about piracy. 

CopyrIght enforcement 

“Previously, we had a strategy of enforcing copyright, going after those who are not using licensed softwares. But, we have changed our strategy. We are no longer worried about piracy, as businesses come to realise that investing in digital [platform] leads them to an increase in productivity,” she said.

Yet, she called for awareness-raising activities to ensure Myanmar people clearly know the difference between genuine and pirated software. 

Microsoft is among a few technology giants that has established a local office in Myanmar. Kabir said it created a lot of jobs for locals, and the firm would continue growing its team in Myanmar. 

“We have put our presence legally in Myanmar, and will continue growing. Employment grows when business grows. We hope to expand here as our business becomes progressive,” she said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Corporate/30366244