PT Microsoft Indonesia plans to set up seven more community-based Technology and Learning Centers (CLTCs) in West Java and Kalimantan in September as part of its commitment to boost domestic computer market penetration.

Microsoft Indonesia has joined hands with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) to set up centers in the two provinces' rural areas to provide farmers a chance to get acquainted with computers, The Jakarta Post newspaper reported Saturday.

"Microsoft Indonesia has made a major commitment to promote skill development that will enable people from a different way of life to use software in productive ways," company President Director Tony Chen was quoted as saying.

Chen said currently there were 21 CLTCs across Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

He also said that establishing more CLTCs would narrow the country's digital divide as well as boost computer market penetration.

"At present, the country's computer penetration stands at about 2 percent, or about 4 million personal computers from 223 million people. This figure is too low," he said.

To support the success of the program, Microsoft Indonesia signed a one-year agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foundation to prepare a group of people who come from the existing CTLCs to become trainers.

Under the agreement, the ASEAN Foundation would facilitate the training -- comprising of eight modules such as word processing, web design and Internet usage.

Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation Apichai Sunchindah hoped such collaboration could be expanded to other neighboring countries that also experienced a huge gap in information technology, such as Cambodia and Laos.

"Why is Indonesia the first? Because there is a great need here. If we can succeed here, we can expand to other member countries," he said.

He added that without narrowing the digital gap among ASEAN countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- it would be impossible for them to emerge as one economic community.

Source: Xinhua