Conference on ‘Business environment created for communications sector and high technologies of Azerbaijan’ held in Baku

On 3 September 2014, Azerbaijani-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) held another ICT conference in Baku.

The event, which was conducted under the theme of “Business environment created for communications sector and high technologies of Azerbaijan” was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies, Ministry of Taxes, Central Bank and the private sector. Speaking at the conference, the acting executive director of AmCham Farid Ismayilzade said that AmCham had always supported the development of the information and communication technologies sector in Azerbaijan.  He noted that AmCham was the leading business association, which always supported and promoted Azerbaijan’s business interests. “The company accounts for almost 80 percent of foreign investments and a significant portion of domestic investments in Azerbaijan.” Touching upon the agenda of the conference, F. Ismayilzade said that participants will have an opportunity to get acquainted with other countries’ experiences in the ICT sphere and exchange views on a wide range of ICT - related issues.
 
Then, Minister of Communications and High Technologies Ali Abbasov addressed the gathering.  Speaking about the importance of the event he said that the aim of the conference was to uphold activities carried out by the Government of Azerbaijan in the sphere of high technologies and to expand mutual business relations between government officials and representatives of the private sector. Touching upon the reforms that had been held in Azerbaijan with the aim of developing the high technologies sphere and the achievements that had been attained in the ICT sector of the country, A.Abbasov pointed out that the republic had moved up 28 points in the UN e-government development index and settled on the 68^th place among all countries of the world. Speaking about the projects that had been implemented in the ICT sphere in Azerbaijan, he noted that the “Azerbaijan – 2020: Look into the Future” Development Concept provides for a twofold increase of the country’s economic potential at the expense of the non-oil sector.  “A number of measures are now being implemented to this end, including the creation of favourable competitive environment, development of labour resources and the attraction of investments,” A. Abbasov said.
 
During the conference, which was held in an interactive format, the prospects for the development of the high technologies sphere were discussed and presentations of the projects that had been implemented in this sphere in Azerbaijan were held. The conference continued its work in sessions. During the sessions topics like “The role of communications, high technologies and the e-Government in the development of the country”,  “Azerbaijan’s human resources potential in  the sphere of high technologies”,  “Promotion of high-tech products”, “Opportunities and dilemmas among high-tech and financial groups” were discussed. Towards the end of the conference a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Microsoft Azerbaijan LLC and High Technologies Park LLC. Under the document, the parties will cooperate in the area of developing ICTs and expanding their application in the country.  
 
 

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