Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz met with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in Jerusalem on Monday morning to discuss strategic cooperation in the field of teleprocessing technology.

The cooperation deal will be finalized in a matter of days when Ministry of Finance's Chief Information Officer Carmela Avner and Microsoft Israel CEO Danny Yamin are expected to sign a memo of understanding. The memo will define the parameters of the strategic cooperation and include mechanisms for exchanging information and know-how in a number of fields, as well as the development of joint infrastructure intended to encourage investment in the field of international teleprocessing.

Within this cooperative framework, the sides will also work to promote and develop technological innovation, launch government policies, implement technology to reduce bureaucratic burdens, better handle large databases, improve information security and privacy protection, improve access to government services, exchange information, launch community projects in Israel and advance Israeli technology and start-up companies.



"The combination of Israel and Microsoft is a natural one because the Israeli high-tech industry is one of the world leaders," Netanyahu said at the meeting. "Microsoft understood Israel's potential many years ago, and has since enjoyed the fruits of Israel's quality manpower. Our investment in knowledge-based industries and training the workforce to work in the technological fields will continue to bear fruit. I believe that the cooperation between Israel and Microsoft will continue for many years to come."

"Global corporations," Steinitz said, "must be encouraged to invest in Israeli technology and build development centers in Israel. These investments are mutually profitable — the Israeli government benefits from global know-how and closer proximity to target markets around the world, and the companies benefit from the human capital and the relative advantage that Israel's elite technological industries have to offer."

According to Ballmer, "This is my fourth visit to Israel and I am always thrilled and draw inspiration from the Israeli public and its entrepreneurs' remarkable inventive abilities, which is the main reason why Israel is such an important market for Microsoft. Since the 1990s we have made significant investments to make our products accessible in Hebrew."

Ballmer went on to say, "Technological innovation and incubation are the driving force behind Israel's dynamic economy. Microsoft is proud to work in this environment, which cultivates innovation and has created such a large number of successful technology companies. We continue to be committed to our investment in Israel and to our role in helping people and businesses realize their full potential."