Microsoft to invest $100 million in Rio IT hub
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Microsoft says it is investing $100 million in a new technology center in Rio de Janeiro.
The center is to house an advanced technology laboratory, a research and development platform for the company's Bing search engine, as well as a business incubator aimed at promoting local Internet technology startups.
It will be housed in an abandoned 18th century building, once Rio's first gas factory, in the city's downtown port, a now shabby district undergoing a vast makeover ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.
Local officials speaking at a news conference where the project was unveiled on Thursday expressed hopes that Microsoft's investment would mark a turning point in their efforts to transform Rio into an IT hub, much like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Berlin.
The center is to house an advanced technology laboratory, a research and development platform for the company's Bing search engine, as well as a business incubator aimed at promoting local Internet technology startups.
It will be housed in an abandoned 18th century building, once Rio's first gas factory, in the city's downtown port, a now shabby district undergoing a vast makeover ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.
Local officials speaking at a news conference where the project was unveiled on Thursday expressed hopes that Microsoft's investment would mark a turning point in their efforts to transform Rio into an IT hub, much like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Berlin.
Ahh... let's not overly politicize everything. They're having the Olympic there in 2016, this is what msft does- it's their area of expertise. Besides, it's helping promote the use of computers in an area where it's lacking, which maybe will help sell more software- just hope it's legal software and not pirated.
What?  A fervent Obama supporter investing $100-Million dollars overseas?  It's a lie.
 @sentryone You do realize it was Romney who kept emphasizing expanding trade with latin and south america and sending jobs there right?
 @NorthwestEconomist  @sentryone LOL when you have to blame someone else's behavior to prove your crappy behavior you have already lost your point
 @Gaikokujin  @NorthwestEconomist  @sentryone I'm not, I'm just saying it wouldn't have been any different at all with Romney, so the point is moot.Â