Cabinet of Ministers held meeting dedicated to the results of socio-economic development in 2013 and the upcoming challenges in 2014

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev chaired the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss the results of the country’s socio-economic development in 2013 and outline tasks for 2014.

Head of State addressed the meeting with an introductory speech. Then Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, and Healthcare Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev spoke at the meeting.

Noting that the development taking place in the country’s economy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev has created the conditions for achieving several achievements in the field of information technology, and declaration of 2013 the Year of ICT in the country by the Head of State has had a significant impact on the results achieved, Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov said:

- The growth rate of ICT sector has traditionally exceeded twice the world average, by 14 percent and total revenues in this area exceeded $2 billion. In the telecommunications sector fixed telephone network has expanded and is in the lead (in CIS region and Central Asia) for its modernization, quality, coverage and price indicators. The mobile phone network has further expanded for the coverage of the population and territory became above European average. The third generation technology is applied in our country fully and to use communications technology 4th generation in Baku and Absheron started, while the second generation technology is applied in many countries around the world. The system of automatic mobile number portability between operators has been created.

During the reporting period, Azerbaijani segment of the global Internet network has developed, our country managed to maintain its leadership with a density of 70 percent of users in the CIS and Central Asia. Access to the international network increased by 35 percent, electronic content within the country - by 40-45 percent according to preliminary estimates, e-commerce and retail sales by 50 percent, the use of e-learning and e-health services have significantly increased. Business activity over the Internet has significantly accelerated.

Subscriber network of mobile and fixed broadband Internet has increased 30%. Reporting year was memorable with transition to digital broadcast in TV and radio broadcasting. 95-98 percent of the total population of the country was covered with digital television in 2013 and our country is ready to say goodbye to the analog broadcasting. Our country is among the developed countries on these technological figures.

In the reporting year, three powerful stations were built in the border areas to prevent interference in the broadcast from neighboring countries. As a result of work carried out in conjunction with the relevant security services, today we do not face serious problems in this area. Across the spectrum, the first phase of the monitoring system of radio frequency resources, which is of very great importance to our country, that is for Baku and Absheron peninsula, and for other areas 3 mobile stations were installed and commissioned.

During the reporting year, revenues in the postal sector increased by 5.5 percent. Along with traditional services, in the postal system, banking and financial services, including the management of bank accounts, non-cash payments, money transfers, utility and other payments, distribution of pensions in remote villages, in general except for deposits and loans provision of all services have considerably expanded. Provision of electronic commercial services through post and rendering services in remote villages through mobile postal vehicles has already started.

Provision of services through e- government portal has expanded in the reporting year, new services have been added to the portal. Thus, of the 428 services approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, 281 are officially provided through the government portal. In 2013, 262 thousand citizens applied the government portal, more than 730 000 e-services were provided. ASAN mobile signature Certification Center of the Ministry of Taxes was established and joined the country’s unified electronic signature system.

In the field of space, Azerspace-1 telecommunications satellite was launched into orbit, which started commercial activities in July 2013. The satellite will provide more than 60 TV channels, mostly foreign countries and different communication channels. Over 6 months export services in the amount of some $10 million have been rendered to foreign countries, and these funds were directed to the payment of 60-65 percent of credit debt in 2013 by Azercosmos. Terrestrial and backup satellite control center were established and are managed by local experts. Project documents and preparatory work for the establishment of satellite monitoring of the earth’s surface, scheduled for 2016 has been completed and tender will be announced soon. Observation satellite is among new achievements for its technological indicators, and Mr. President, your personal intervention has paved the way for the success of the project. Work is under way on the design of another telecommunications satellite, which is planned for launch in 2017.

Work was continued for creation of transit information highways and providing regional ICT services at the regional and international level. The construction of the Azerbaijani segment of the information highway stretching from Europe to the Middle East has come to an end and put into operation. Eurasian Connectivity Alliance (EuraCA) was created in accordance with a special resolution of the UN General Assembly’s 67th session, held in September, and under the coordination of our country, and a memorandum was signed to establish a consortium for the project Trans-Eurasia Information Superhighway Highway. Today the use of new type of nanomaterials, electronic devices, optical elements, and electronic tablets, computers with full voice controlled in the Azerbaijani language, software, new mobile applications and creation of new solutions are observed in Azerbaijan very often. We are currently working with relevant state and government agencies on the mass production of innovative products and services of this type. Mr. President, a particular impetus for the implementation of these activities were given by various funds created by your orders, including the State Fund for ICT development, different economic zones, High-Tech Park as well as the events organized for the training of high-level specialists and engineers, which are very important for innovative and technological development.

Mr. President, The Year of ICT has come to an end. Action plan approved by your Order in relation to the Year of ICT and to be implemented in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences and other relevant agencies, has been performed on all counts. Along with infrastructure and industrial projects, online mass actions were also held including educational, scientific and technical conferences, forums and exhibitions. Among them online intellectual contest, “I am Azerbaijani”, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, caused a particular interest in the society. The online contest, which lasted six months, was attended by more than 230,000 people and over 8 million applications were made for the intellectual games.

By the end of this year, we have also identified the main objectives for future 5 years. These are followings:

First is creation of a high-speed broadband optical and wireless networks over mobile and fixed networks in the field of network infrastructure by the end of 2017, and ensuring access of every citizen, business and household to the network, raising them to the level of developed countries. Also, the expansion of the use of all types of digital broadcasting in TV and radio networks and bringing it to every citizen;

Second is to ensure the production of innovative and competitive products and services directed at the enhancement of export potential by using electronics and nanoelectronics, space satellites based on high technologies and new information technologies in the economic development of digital sector. We have already entered into discussions of major joint projects with several multinational companies.

Third is expansion of information and transit services at the regional and international level, strengthening cybersecurity together with relevant security agencies.

Finally, the fourth is the acceleration of electronization of services rendered to the population and entrepreneurs together with relevant government bodies and to bring them to places through e-government portal.