In the last two years, Russian private software developer MyOffice has signed agreements for software licence supplies with partners from Burundi and Cameroon, as well as a recent cooperation agreement with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The company provides a solution to the problem of information security — data is stored within the country in the employer’s own cloud, ensuring direct access and control.
This way we can be confident that state secrets will be safe from hackers or any third parties
Laurent Etoundi, Minister of Basic Education of Cameroon
Out of two contracts signed, only one implied payment. In 2019 MyOffice announced it had begun the supply of 300 software licences to the Government of Burundi. The value of the contract is undisclosed, installation has been provided by local company INGO Tech.
MyOffice provides Russian public schools and nurseries with free access to their «Education» pack. Under the same conditions in 2020 the contract was signed with the Ministry of Basic Education of Cameroon. By 2030 its schools and nurseries will receive 1 million licences of «MyOffice Education» for free. Local higher education institutions will be able to receive a reduction of up to 93% off any MyOffice software.
The goal of MyOffice in Africa is to provide governments and large companies with secure technologies, increase the level of digital literacy among the younger generation and provide them with opportunities to increase their skills for working with data and documents, Russian Africa Journal gathered from MyOffice.
Knowledge and software export private initiatives now have limited government support — MyOffice only gets special preferential tax treatment thanks to its residence in the Russian Technology Innovative Special Economic Zone Innopolis.
Knowledge and software export private initiatives now have limited government support — MyOffice only gets special preferential tax treatment thanks to its residence in the Russian Technology Innovative Special Economic Zone Innopolis. However, in 2021 the new tax relief package for IT companies which includes VAT exemptions is expected to come into force. It might contribute to the sector in general.