Africa has recently become the focus of Microsoft`s global programme of promoting access to technology, with the express aim of enabling social and economic development in emerging economies.

The company has set a goal of introducing 250 million people in 83 developing countries to technology for the first time by 2010.

“Microsoft`s role in the ICT industry is to provide software innovation to enable an environment for development to help society reap the opportunities of the information age,” says Cheick Diarra, Microsoft`s chairman for Africa.