Baku: Azerbaijan's experience in shaping national agendas through the World Economic Forum's Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network was highlighted during an online meeting. Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4SIM) under the Ministry of Economy, represented Azerbaijan at the meeting.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the discussions centered around the contributions of network centers to national strategic initiatives. Jafarov provided insights into Azerbaijan's 'Strategy for the Development of the Digital Economy in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2026-2029,' focusing on accelerating digital transformation across business, society, and the public sector, developing digital skills, and enhancing data-driven governance. The strategy encompasses nine priority areas with 50 initiatives.

Jafarov also presented on Azerbaijan's Industry 4.0 ecosystem, highlighting support for technological and green transformation in enterprises, human capital development, and initiatives promoting new technologies. The center aims to involve 300 enterprises in digital transformation, establish 250 new startups, provide digital market access to 200 SMEs, and engage 40,000 citizens in specialized training by 2029.

The meeting, attended by heads of 24 centers and Manju George, Head of Strategic Impact at the WEF's Center for Frontier Technologies and Innovation, included representatives from Rwanda and Malaysia who also shared their experiences. Discussions covered effective contributions to national agendas, stakeholder engagement, successful approaches, and current challenges.