Microsoft to invest US$750m in China

Microsoft to invest US$750m in China

BEIJING: Software giant Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it would
invest US$750 million in China over the next three years, calling
it the largest software deal ever between China and a foreign
firm.

The investment -- pledged in a deal with one of China's most
powerful economic ministries -- will cover areas including
training, academic and research cooperation and hardware
manufacturing, the company said.

The deal is being made with China's State Development Planning
Commission (SDPC), whose minister, Zeng Peiyan, will chair a
cooperation committee alongside Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.

Microsoft will also license certain technology to local
Chinese companies to have them develop software products, the
company said in a statement. -- AFP