Baku: President Ilham Aliyev chaired a meeting focused on the unified action plan for 'Azerbaijan's New Digital Architecture'. The meeting, held on February 11, marked an important step in the nation's commitment to digital development and modernization.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized the necessity of digitalization as a key determinant of Azerbaijan's future growth. He highlighted the global trends of artificial intelligence and data centers, pointing out that Azerbaijan has already undertaken efforts in these areas. The president stressed the importance of integrating digitalization into the country's long-term development strategies.
Azerbaijan's extensive experience in the oil and gas sectors, along with its strategic geographic location, provides the country with a competitive edge in the digital domain. President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan's partnerships with international companies and neighboring countries have laid a strong foundation for future projects. These initiatives aim to transform existing transport and energy corridors into fiber-optic corridors, supporting the nation's digital infrastructure.
The president also discussed the substantial investments made in Azerbaijan over the past two decades, amounting to over $350 billion. These investments have been protected by law, fostering a conducive environment for both domestic and foreign enterprises. The president underscored the importance of leveraging this experience in collaborations with leading digital and AI companies.
Azerbaijan's growing energy generation capacity was highlighted as a key asset in supporting digitalization and data center establishment. The country has increased its energy production to 10,000 megawatts, with plans to further boost this capacity through renewable energy projects. This energy surplus is critical for sustaining digital initiatives and meeting rising domestic electricity demands.
President Aliyev mentioned ongoing projects to enhance fiber-optic connectivity, including a significant project linking Azerbaijan to the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea. This connectivity expansion is essential for integrating with eastern and western digital networks. The president emphasized the need for close coordination between state agencies and proposed appointing deputies to oversee digitalization efforts within each agency.
He also advocated for a unified platform for public services, suggesting the 'mygov' portal as a centralized hub. The president recognized the importance of training personnel in digital skills and encouraged educational institutions to focus on this area. The application of artificial intelligence in government operations was recommended to improve efficiency and decision-making.
President Aliyev addressed the private sector's role in digital development, urging the creation of support mechanisms to incentivize private investment in this domain. Cybersecurity was identified as a critical area, with measures in place to protect against cyber threats. The president called for strengthened ties with global companies and the communication of Azerbaijan's digital advantages to international partners.
The meeting concluded with a presentation by Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, followed by discussions on the proposed action plan for Azerbaijan's digital future.