In 2003, all government procurement in Chile was moved online through a portal called ChileCompra. Not only did it make every transaction transparent, resulting in improved accountability and cost savings for the government, but it also created a central online location for all businesses across the country looking to bid on any and all government contracts. Since the portal’s introduction, the number of bids per government project has more than tripled -- from 1.7 to 5.7, and the total number of companies registered to bid has grown to more than 200,000. Increased competition and efficiency saves taxpayers US$60 million a year, the government estimates -- good for the government and good for the vendors. The one catch – businesses must have access to technology, or they can't participate in the online e-procurement portal.

The government of Chile recognized this issue and worked with Microsoft and other partners to create a solution to ensure greater access to ChileCompra and government business. Beginning next month, tens of thousands of small- and micro-business owners in Chile who don’t own PCs will no longer be left out or have to make frequent trips to their local icafe to find and bid on government projects. Instead, a Microsoft Partnerships for Technology Access (PTA) program, called “Mi PYME Avanza” (My Small Business Grows) will provide affordable access to PCs, the latest software and training through low-interest, unsecured loans.

The program is one of more than 50 now underway or planned – from Egypt to Argentina, Mexico to South Africa – since Microsoft introduced the PTA initiative at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Americas in March 2006. The initiative combines the know-how and resources of governments, technology companies, banks and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide creative micro-financing and purchasing arrangements, along with training and other resources, to people and business that can’t otherwise afford PCs.