Baku hosts 4th meeting of high level Working Group on Information Society Development

The 4th meeting of high-level Working Group on Information Society Development held in Baku on the sidelines of BakuTel-2016 International Exhibition and Conference on Telecommunications and Information Technologies. The meeting was held with the support of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC) and organized by the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The meeting was attended by delegations of communications administrations of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Principles and mechanisms for the formation of the digital market of RCC member countries, preparation of proposals on the abolition of monopolies in the software market, cooperation in E-government development and development of bases for provision of socially important e-services in RCC member states were discussed at the meeting.

At the same time, the participants exchanged views on the issues covering cooperation of RCC members on Internet governance, interaction of Data centers, formation and use of new information resources, training of scientific personnel and qualified specialists in the field of ICT.

Delivering a welcoming speech Director General of the Executive Committee of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications Nurudin Mukhitdinov at the event, which took place under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Communications and High Technologies Elmir Velizade, spoke about the role of the information society: "Today, the level of ICT development and its use everywhere plays a crucial role in enhancing the economic competitiveness of countries, serves to the effectiveness of public administration, create conditions for the expansion of relations between state, country and businesses." He said that the ongoing ICT policy in the country allows the Republic of Azerbaijan to take its rightful place in the global information infrastructure.

"The active participation of communication administrations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in all areas of activity of Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications makes a significant contribution to our organization’s activities, which provides support to the initiatives of our members in the international forums, as well as help to achieve the objectives of the World Summit on Information Society".

Then participants heard reports on the agenda.

Making a report on the topic "Preparation of proposals for the principles and formation of mechanisms of the digital market in the RCC countries" Deputy Minister of Communications and High Technologies Elmir Velizade said the digital market is topical issue for all countries, including Azerbaijan.

Deputy Minister spoke about reforms ongoing in the country in ICT field, projects implemented, and the results achieved saying Azerbaijan has taken some steps in this field with the European Union within "Eastern Partnership" programme.

Minister of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Popkov made a report on the topic "Formation and use of information resources". The Minister provided information on work carried out in his country on this issue, as well as ICT sector as a whole.

Deputy Minister of Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation Rashid Ismayilov touched the most important issues in this field in his report on the theme "RCC participants’ approaches on cooperation in Internet governance issues". It was noted that the Internet should be open as a trans-national resource, as well as there is need for the measures on the improvement of the management model of Internet infrastructure.

Later, Department Director of the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation Vladimir Averbakh informed the participants on the project "E-government in Russia in 2020", strategic plans and objectives in this field.

Reports on other topics included in the agenda of the meeting were also heard, discussed and relevant decisions were made.