The State Government of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and The Document Foundation (TDF)
signed an agreement for strengthening usage of open documents formats Photo: Tárlis Schneider - Indice Foto
Yesterday morning during 14th International Free Software forum
(fisl14), the State of Rio Grande do Sul, through its General
Secretariat and IT Secretariat and The Document Foundation signed the
ODF Protocol (Open Document Format). The goal is the promotion of joint
actions for development and promotion of public policies of usage of
open standards in government administrations.
According to
Government General Secretary Vinicius Gomes Wu, the State Government is
living an important step in regarding open formats. He says that it is
necessary to deepen initiatives for developing technologies for
autonomy, information democratization and State sovereignity. "We want
to make RS State an example in adoption of open standards formats in its
structure", he said.
The Document Foundation Representative
Olivier Hallot, stressed the relevance of the institution that defends
software freedom and its independence. The Director-president of the
State Data Processing Company (Procergs), Carlson Aquistapasse,
considered the agreement a welcome advancement. "We have the challenge
to use technology to deepen democracy", he said. For the General
Coordinator of Associação Software Livre (ASL), Ricardo Fritsch, the
signed protocol is an important step to ensure use of open standards
formats in Rio Grande do Sul.
According to Rogério Alves de Souza, President of the IT Committee in
the RS State Government, the move shall reduce in 98% the expenses with
proprietary licenses to office software, which today reaches R$ 50
millions in the whole State. "Our new recommendations will make
mandatory for public agencies to justify the choice for other formats
and solutions not based on ODF henceforth", explains Souza. (fonte: fisl14) |