October 10, 1997 - LUKOIL President Vagit Alekperov and President of the Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates have held talks in Moscow on October 10.

The sides stated that cooperation between LUKOIL and Microsoft had a successful beginning and that they were both interested in using Microsoft software for creating a LUKOIL corporate information system.

Alekperov and Gates also said that LUKOIL is the first major Russian industrial company to have opted for Microsoft office products as a corporate standard. LUKOIL is also dynamically deploying an information-exchange system based on the Microsoft Exchange.

The sides signed a protocol of intent which says that by November 30, 1997, they are to draft and sign a general agreement outlining a strategy of cooperation and specific ways of broadening it in the following areas:

• consulting services and R&D in creating a corporate system of information exchanges;
• design and organization of a corporate system of technical support for Microsoft know-how at LUKOIL;
• training of LUKOIL personnel in handling advanced Microsoft software.

In September 1997, LUKOIL and the Russian subsidiary of Microsoft, concluded a major contract on the acquisition of a wide range of Microsoft programs, including desktop operation systems, office application and server products. The number of acquired licenses exceeded 5,000. LUKOIL is currently developing a corporate system of information exchanges on the basis of the Microsoft Exchange Server.

This network will become one of Russia's largest corporative information-exchange systems based on the Microsoft Exchange. This system will ensure the operation of electronic mail and access to Internet, and serve as a channel for circulating business and financial information inside the company with the required security and reliability levels guaranteed.

"We are satisfied with the development of cooperation with the leader in the software business Microsoft in shaping our corporate information system," Alekperov said.

LUKOIL and Microsoft leaders also discussed possible joint investment projects in Russia, in particular in the oil industry.

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