Microsoft previewed its third annual Government Leaders Forum Monday by indicating it will promote strategies and solutions designed to reduce governmental red tape when the meeting gets underway Wednesday in Portugal.

In its announcement, Microsoft cited its Microsoft Connected Government Framework (CGF), which consists largely of training and educational solutions developed for government officials.

"Governments around the world tell us that to interoperate effectively they need a more structured approach to building information technology (IT) systems," said Bill Gates, Microsoft's chairman and chief software architect, in a statement. "Deploying an e-Government Strategy will help governments improve productivity and service delivery through seamless interoperability--as well as dramatically help cut costs."

The firm also pointed to partnerships with WlSeKey SA, Accenture, and Avanade as examples of its efforts to improve government services. WlSeKey is a Swiss-based computer security firm, while Accenture and Avanade recently released a solution for replacing paper forms and automating processes.

Governments have represented threats to Microsoft occasionally, because they have supported open source software over Microsoft products. Microsoft has resisted such efforts in the European cities of Munich and Bergen and in the state of Massachusetts in the U.S.

Gates is scheduled to delivery a speech on Microsoft's government strategy in Lisbon on Tuesday followed by a two-day meeting of the GLF.