Minister Ali Abbasov : “The most important and immense feature of this year’s “BakuTel” compared to the previous events is that this event is held simultaneously together with 7th Internet Management Forum”

Dear exhibition and conference participants!

I congratulate you on occasion of commence of the work of 18^th International Telecommunications and Information Technologies Exhibition and Conference "BakuTel-2012" , wish all of you health and success in your future affairs.

This traditional reliable event is significant for informing the international business circles about essential achievements, gained in various fields of ICT, implementing regional and international ICT projects, of which we are initiator and participant, as well as for expanding mutual fruitful cooperation and experience exchange.

Currently, Azerbaijan is attracting the world’s attention as a country with speed economic growth rate, reliable infrastructure and communication facilities and favorable investment environment. The main purposes of new development strategy of Azerbaijan is continuation of successful social-economic policy, carried out in our Republic, reduction of dependence of economy from the energy sector, strengthening the export and competitiveness and improvement of welfare. The information-communication technologies have been formed as a priority direction, which will reach these targets together with development of education and science.

According to the evaluation of the International Telecommunication Union, Azerbaijan has positioned itself among the speedy developed countries for ICT in the recent 10 years. Mobile communications and internet are dynamically developing. Currently there are 110 mobile subscribers per 100 inhabitants, application of 4G service is expanding. 65 % of the population is internet users and 30% is broadband internet users.
Arrangements, undertaken have been created conditions for implementing the state management with modern principles and rendering high quality services to the population. The "E-government" portal, has been put into use this year, provides access of citizens to more than 150 E-service of the public authorities on the basis of "one stop window" principle.

Regional projects as TASIM, EPEG information highways, aimed at increasing the transit facilities of our country are carried out step by step. In the recent months putting the first geo-stationary artificial satellite into orbit, will bring Azerbaijan into new stage by quality and will be significant from the viewpoint of the future perspectives of the country economy.

The most important and immense feature of this year’s "BakuTel" compared to the previous events is that this event is held simultaneously together with 7^th Internet Management Forum, hosted by our country. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which is considered the important event from the viewpoint of future development of the mankind, is a reliable platform for discussing the problems on management of global internet network of the statesmen and public figures, chief business leaders, influential specialists and other stakeholders, as well as defining the future development perspectives. Azerbaijan’s role as a host country of these important events is the result of successful ICT policy, our fruitful cooperation with the advanced organizations of the world and ICT companies, as well as our active participation in the international projects.

I do hope that meetings, useful discussions, arranged in the course of exhibition and conference will make valuable contribution to expansion of mutual cooperation and implementation of new projects thanks to future development of our country.I wish success to the work of exhibition and conference.

With best wishes,
Ali Abbasov

Minister of Communications and Information Technologies