The year 2005 is a special year with a number of important events and anniversaries in Vietnam. Recently, a touching event: ‘The Awarding Ceremony to the Knights of Vietnam ICT 2005’ was held on 11 August 2005 by e-Chip, an Information Technology and Telecommunications Magazine (a subsidiary of VASC). This ceremony was even more special as it was on the 60th Anniversary of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT), which was being sponsored by VNPT and Siemens Vietnam.

The purpose of this ceremony was to promote 15 individuals who are committed to devote to the development of the society. Although coming from different backgrounds, their hearts are for the benefits of the society by exploiting Information Technology. This meaningful ceremony was more touching where four of our knights are disabled persons and most of them are from poor background but they all have the same direction as to contribute to the society’s deed. In order to be granted as the Knight of Vietnam ICT, an individual must fulfill one of the followed requirements: voluntarily to provide useful software to society free of charge and/or using different methods to promote knowledge and applications of Information Technology and making way to support the society to approach and explore the benefits of Information Technology.

Siemens has played an important role in this meaningful program as a sponsor since “Siemens is fully committed to Vietnam not only for the business but also for supporting and contributing to the development of Vietnam’s economy and society” announced Mr. Dieter Klein, Senior Vice President of Siemens Vietnam.

This sponsorship is just a part of the chain of valuable actions that Siemens has successfully carried out since opening its offices in Vietnam in 1993. For instance, Siemens provided the VNPT Training Centre in Thu Duc with a switching system for training purposes, established training centers for Automation Technologies at Hanoi University of Technology (1996) and Thu Duc Technical Teacher Training University in Ho Chi Minh City (2000), donated 166 PCs to Vietnamese universities and schools, established a scholarship program to sponsor young Vietnamese engineers. Siemens also continuously offers various internships for young graduated bachelors.