Bulgarian branch of Microsoft plans expansion into Albania

SOFIA, Nov. 1 – Vahe Torossian, vice president Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa, said Wednesday that the company was studying the possibility of opening a branch in Albania but that no confirmed timeline was set yet. Microsoft has a presence in the region through units in Romania, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia and will open a big support center in Bulgaria next year when the country enters the EU. It will be a customer support centre with 40 to 50 employees, which will provide services for clients in southeastern Europe and Greece. Microsoft has started investing in education since 2003 and by 2007. Microsoft realizes there is a big potential in the region for the IT industry in general and a need to provide innovative services and products. Piracy remains a problem for which a better legal structure is necessary.