Softbank signs zl. 33 million deal with Belarus

Softbank has concluded a contract, worth zl. 33 million, to provide an IT system to National Clearing System of Belarus. The contract is the biggest export deal to date in the history of the Polish IT sector. Softbank is to provide an IT system and upgrade the systems of Belarus's Clearing Center to the specifications of Europay and Visa. The IT integrator will also fa cilitate the introduction of non-cash settlements on the Belarussian retail market. The company's software will be used among other things to manage transactions and ATM networks and an internet portal will be created for accessing credit card transactions.The whole contract will be completed by October 2004 and includes delivery of IT systems as well as their impl ementation, training and servicing. Softbank has been present on the B elarussian market since the mid-1990's and introduced its systems to S bierbank of Belarus and created a joint venture called Bielsoftbank. The annual export of the Polish IT sector is estimated at between zl. 400 and zl. 500 million. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B5) P.W.