Monday, 28 August 2006

Intel to Help Vietnam's Communists Go Open Source

Intel Vietnam and the Central Committee for Science and Education (CCSE) of the Vietnamese Communist Party have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under terms of the MoU signed, Intel will help the Communist Party's CCSE set up a laboratory, called OpenLab, for testing and developing 'open source' software. Over the next three years, the lab will oversee the installation of the software on 27,000 PCs running Intel processors, the chipmaker said.

The Communist Party is counting on 'open source' software to improve office automation and efficiency across different party organizations. It also hopes to benefit from improved security and reliability, the chipmaker said.

"Intel is committed to working with global and local industry leaders to provide integrated, tuned and tested e-government solutions," said Than Trong Phuc, Intel’s country manager in Vietnam. "We are committed to work with CCSE to build a robust open source computing solution that will increase office automation’s efficiency and transactional client activities across the Party."

Intel is investing heavily in Vietnam, which has emerged as a low-cost alternative to manufacturing in China. In February, Intel announced plans to build a USD 300 million test and assembly plant in Ho Chi Minh City. When completed, the site will be Intel's seventh test and assembly plant, joining the ranks of similar facilities in China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Costa Rica.