Baku: In an exclusive interview with the Azeri-Press News Agency, Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, elaborated on Azerbaijan’s Digital Economy Strategy for 2025-2030. Developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the strategy encompasses over 50 initiatives aimed at transforming various sectors of the economy. The initiatives focus on the digitalization of industry, the integration of artificial intelligence, and the development of digital roadmaps for industrial entities. A significant aspect of the strategy is the creation of a large-scale Azerbaijani-language database to support artificial intelligence solutions, along with the establishment of a “Digital Twin” to facilitate real-time decision-making in agriculture, urban planning, and transportation.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the strategy also includes the establishment of a New Technologies Center, which aims to motivate businesses toward digitalization by sharing global best practices. This center is expected to play a crucial role in encouraging businesses to adopt digital technologies and innovate.

Further emphasizing human capital development, Jafarov highlighted the Ministry of Economy’s initiative to provide Azerbaijani citizens with free access to more than 8,000 online courses through Coursera. This initiative, which is in its second year, aims to grant over 100,000 citizens access to educational resources from top global institutions, including Oxford University, enhancing their knowledge and practical skills.

The Digital Economy Strategy also offers businesses various opportunities, such as access to software solutions and government-funded international certification programs. Additionally, the government plans to establish data centers to bolster the digital economy and foster the growth of the non-oil sector. In the transport sector, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport is actively researching AI applications to improve traffic management and create new transportation routes, leveraging technological tools to optimize the sector’s efficiency.