Ramin Guluzade delivers speech at ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conference

The Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) continues its work in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The conference is being attended by heads of government, ministers of ICT, deputy ministers, representatives of academic institutions, as well as more than 2500 representatives of private companies.

The conference, which began on October 29, will run until 16 November.

Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ramin Guluzade delivered speech at the plenary meeting held within the Plenipotentiary Conference.

The Minister noted that Azerbaijan is carrying out consistent work to develop the ICT sector, strengthen cooperation with ITU, as well as actively participate in the activities of the Council.

Highlighting Azerbaijan’s active support for Connect 2020 Agenda for Global Telecommunication and ICT Development, Ramin Guluzade said that Azerbaijan is committed to achieve the goals and targets of the Agenda by adopting important policy documents in this direction, implementing strategic infrastructure projects, as well as improving cooperation with other international stakeholders.

The Minister noted that Azerbaijan’s strategic vision on the Development of ICT by the year 2020 has found its reflection in the National Strategy for Development of Information Society in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

“In this regard, we are introducing modern technologies in the country for widespread use of telecommunications and ICT, increasing the number of Internet users, developing the information society and ensuring the digital economy. During the membership of Azerbaijan to the ITU Council, all ICT indicators in the country has constantly developed. Today more than 80 percent of Azerbaijani population are Internet users, 64 percent of households have computers. Number of mobile subscribers in Azerbaijan is about 106 for every 100 people. We are facilitating the deployment of 4G technologies, increasing the number of users of broadband services, including mobile broadband. Investments in the development of our country’s infrastructure bring major results. Thus, in 2016 we launched a Data Center, which is the first TIER III certified center in the South Caucasus region. In order to strengthen the capabilities of small and medium business and startup ecosystem, we are planning to establish Innovation Center in Baku. The Center will become the place of promotion of innovative ideas of young entrepreneurs”, the Minister stressed.

Speaking about the ongoing work on the project Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) supported by ITU, the Minister noted that its goal is to build the shortest transnational fiber-optic line that will connect East with West. Ramin Guluzade said that this project will facilitate to eliminate the digital gap and open up new economic opportunities for landlocked counties of Eurasia.

The Minister expressed the hope that the Plenipotentiary Conference would identify new trends in the development of information and communication technologies in the world and stressed Azerbaijan’s readiness to continue active cooperation within the framework of the Union’s activities.

The plenary meeting continued its work with discussions on various topics.