DUBAI, October 18, 2009 (AFP) - A top Microsoft official expressed hope Sunday that technology will spur economic growth around the world as the US software giant launches its latest operating system.

"There was an economic upset. It's had an impact around the world," Steven Guggenheimer told a Dubai technology conference, adding he has been repeatedly asked whether the Windows 7 operating system would fare well amid the economic downturn.

"As an industry, we are focused on innovation and the work we do impacts society... we all have hope that things will continue to move forward and that technology will continue to spur growth," he said.

Guggenheimer, who is charged with worldwide sales, marketing and licensing of pre-installed Windows systems, said there were one billion people using computers, so the impact would resonate.

The audience got a glimpse of Windows 7, which Microsoft releases for sale in New York on Thursday, in a preview displayed as part of Guggenheimer's opening keynote address.

Guggenheimer was speaking at Gitex, the Middle East's largest information technology exhibition which brings together more than 3,000 manufacturers and suppliers of electronics and communications technology.