Microsoft focuses efforts on new Microsoft Partner Network to bring about greater benefits and business opportunities for partners.

After achieving a growth of 22% in FY09, Microsoft Thailand is striving to keep this upward trend within the local IT industry alive by strengthening partner's capabilities via the new Partner Network - reaffirming its position as a trusted advisor to all its partners with support on the latest Microsoft technologies, solutions and marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, Microsoft Thailand has also recognized the outstanding work of its best performing partners during the 2009 Microsoft Partner Awards, which were held at the recent Microsoft Partner Executive Kick-Off event.

Last year witnessed a significant growth-rate for Microsoft Thailand that has since placed Thailand in the top five fastest-growing Microsoft branches throughout the world. Amidst the economic recession, the company has maintained a continuous growth rate from 2007 - 2009, achieving a rate of 24% (in FY07), 21% (in FY08) and 22% (in FY09). This is due in part to close collaboration between Microsoft Thailand and its partners, including a range of programs designed to help enhance their business performance. The sector with the fastest-growing rate is Value Added Reseller with a growth of 37%.  Amongst Microsoft Thailand's partners, 90% of them are local partners, indicating the current healthy state of the country's local software industry.    

Speaking on the company's strategy and direction for the fiscal year 2010, Patama Chantaruck, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited said, "Microsoft Thailand is extremely proud to be working alongside partners that are repeatedly putting in such impressive performances, particularly our local Thai partners that are now recording continuous growth. With IT playing such a major role today, this growth will reflect greatly on the overall economy of the country and any growth within the IT ecosystem will be felt across the industry. Indeed a survey performed by IDC, the global market research company, has shown that every dollar of Microsoft's earning in Thailand will in turn create a revenue of 17.6 dollars for the country's IT ecosystem, including hardware companies, OEMs, software companies, distributors, ISVs, and service providers."

This year also marks a special year for Microsoft Thailand with the announcement of the next generation of its Microsoft Partner Program, to be officially known as the 'Microsoft Partner Network'. This new approach aims to strengthen the competency of each partner and enhance their potential business opportunities by establishing a more concrete network and restructuring the operational model between both Microsoft and its partners, as well as between partners and their customers.

"Microsoft's foremost policy is to reinforce the ability of partners, together with improving the efficiency of Microsoft itself in order to achieve our goal of the growing together with partners," added Patama Chantaruck. "As a trusted advisor, we are committed to strengthening our partners' capabilities through comprehensive development, whether it be enhancing IT ability or working together on new marketing opportunities. Importantly, it is this collaboration that will then help to grow Thailand's long-term IT ecosystem."

At this year's Microsoft Partner Executive Kick-Off event - held annually to strengthen relationships between Microsoft and its partners - a series of awards were presented to partners that have achieved exceptional performance in 15 categories. The award winners were as follows:

• Microsoft Business Intelligence Partner of the Year and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year: Datapro Computer Systems Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Custom Development & Software Package Solutions Partner of the Year: Indigy Company

• Microsoft Desktop Deployment Partner of the Year: MFEC Public Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Enterprise Content Management Partner of the Year: Revolic Tech Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Infrastructure Solutions Partner of the Year: CDG Microsystems Ltd.

• Microsoft Security Solutions Partner of the Year: DThai Professional Services Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Unified Communications Partner of the Year: The Communication Solution Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Virtualization Partner of the Year: Isonet Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner of the Year award and Microsoft Licensing of the Year - Open Reseller award: Bhatara Progress Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner of the Year: Innoviz Solutions Co., Ltd.

• Microsoft Training Center of the Year: Bangkok Advance Learning

• Microsoft Distribution Partner of the Year: Ingram Micro Ltd.

• Microsoft Licensing of the Year - Large Account Reseller award: Metro System Corporation PLC

• Microsoft OEM Partner of the Year: Add In Business Co., Ltd.

Aeimporn Punyasai, Partner Strategy Manager, Microsoft (Thailand), said "Microsoft is determined to build success for more than 2,000 partners throughout the country with special tools and benefits offered to them in order to help them match the needs of customers with the right solutions. These benefits include product training sessions, marketing opportunities, after-sales service and technology updates. With the presentation of these partner awards we both recognizing their great work and reaffirming our commitment to help them grow their business by more accurately meeting customer needs with the latest IT solutions."

"As with any company today, choosing the right technology is playing a key role in maximizing our own potential and capabilities. However, we know that this alone is not enough, since progress and success relies so heavily on collaboration. It is with this in mind that Microsoft Thailand is determined to further strengthen our ties with partners and to build upon their skills. Our partners will then also be in stronger position to truly answer the needs of customers and will have the ability to drive their company and customers towards success despite the current challenging economic environment," added Patama.

Those interested in joining the Microsoft Partner Network can contact the Microsoft Partner Program Call Center on 02 685 1322 (free) and press 3 for Thai language.