Science and technology minister Mosebudi Mangena told the opening of Microsoft`s TechEd 2004 forum today that multinationals should help develop the local ICT sector.
"We welcome the presence of Microsoft in SA and commend them and their partners for their contribution to the local economy," said Mangena.
However, he said it was important to develop indigenous technology by attracting more research and development work to SA.
Mangena said SA`s IT sector had the potential to fuel economic growth, but in order to do that, the IT sector had to move away from selling foreign products and solutions towards developing skills to produce them locally.
TechEd 2004, Microsoft`s fifth developers` forum in SA, is taking place at Sun City this week. The event has attracted 1 300 delegates.
In his welcome message, Gordon Frazer, Microsoft SA MD, said including 2004, over 5 700 delegates had attended TechEd since its inception, participating in over 360 technical sessions.
Also speaking at the event, Mark Souza, group program manager, Microsoft SQL server development group, said 2005 would be a big year for Microsoft server.
Souza highlighted various Microsoft server products scheduled for release in 2005, emphasising Microsoft`s commitment to reducing IT complexity and its concern for security across every platform.
"Next year will see one of the most significant changes in Microsoft server products with the release of SQL Server 2005, which has much greater management capabilities and a much higher level of built-in security than its predecessors."
Souza concluded by saying Microsoft`s next generation of Windows, known as Longhorn, was far from dead. "Longhorn is very much alive and a vital part of our future strategies."
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