Geneva: A meeting of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council is underway in Geneva, with Azerbaijan's delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Samaddin Asadov, actively participating. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan shared this update with APA-Economics.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Council meeting covers a range of topics, including the report from the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) held in Baku, and preparations for key upcoming events such as the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference and the World Radiocommunication Conference and Assembly set for 2027. The discussions also extend to the Strategic and Financial Plan for 2028-2031, among other pertinent issues.
Azerbaijan has put forward its candidacy for membership in the ITU Council for the 2027-2030 term. Additionally, a representative from Azercosmos has been nominated for the Radio Regulations Board. Deputy Minister Samaddin Asadov seized the opportunity to meet with ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, where he highlighted Azerbaijan's digital development initiatives and explored avenues for enhancing existing collaborations.
Beyond the Council meeting, Deputy Minister Asadov engaged in bilateral discussions with Turkish Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Omer Fatih Sayan, Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Doszhan Musaliyev, and China's Deputy Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiong Jijun. These interactions underscored Azerbaijan's commitment to advancing its digital development agenda on the global stage, fostering experience exchange in artificial intelligence and innovation, and paving the way for new bilateral and multilateral cooperation opportunities.
Prior to the official Council meeting, an informal ministerial gathering took place, tackling issues such as the adoption of new technologies by member states, boosting private sector involvement, refining the financing model, and updating collaborations with the United Nations.