Cisco to Provide IT Training in Burma

USAID head Rajiv Shah, second from right, watches Aung Naing, USAID Program development specialist, translates during an interactive session followed by a speech in Rangoon, Burma, March 7, 2013.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has announced a new collaboration with Cisco, a leading networking and communications firm, to set up to networking academies in Burma that will train people for the nation's information and communications technology sector.

USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah said in Rangoon that information and communications technology can expand economic opportunities, transform public service delivery and provide more opportunities for citizen engagement.

As part of a longstanding engagement with USAID, Cisco will donate networking equipment for labs in two educational institutions and provide training for up to 15 university faculty staff to support the program.

While in Rangoon, Shah participated in a technology fair hosted by the Myanmar Computer Federation, where he met with local entrepreneurs, other industry leaders and students engaged in the country's information and communications technology sector.

Cisco has established over 10,000 networking academies in 165 countries, helping people build skills and prepare for entry-level careers.