Baku hosts 54th meeting of Council of Heads of RCC Communications Administrations

The 54th meeting of the Council of Heads of Communications Administrations of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC CA) was held today in Baku as part of Bakutel 2018, the 24th Azerbaijan International Exhibition and Conference Telecommunications, Innovations and High Technologies.

One of the key issues of the meeting was the question of the outcomes of the work of the RCC CAs delegations at the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2018, as well as discussion of the work of the RCC Executive Committee on the implementation of the tasks of the RCC Council Heads.

The meeting was attended by delegations of full members of the RCC - communications administrations of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the RCC observers - communications administrations of Latvia and Slovenia, representatives of the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications, European Telecommunications Satellite Organization EUTELSAT, and ITU Regional Office for the CIS countries.

The meeting was chaired by Head of the RCC Council and the Coordination Council, Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation Konstantin Noskov.

Welcoming the participants of the event, Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ramin Guluzade expressed gratitude to the RCC member states for supporting the proposal of the Azerbaijani side to hold an extraordinary meeting in Baku.

“One of the main issues to be discussed at today’s meeting will be the results of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, held from October 29 to November 16 in Dubai. This event is very important for the sector we represent, and for this reason we considered it necessary to hold such an emergency meeting,” the Minister said.

Ramin Guluzade highly appreciated the effective joint activities of the RCC administrations at the Plenipotentiary Conference, as well as the work of the RCC Executive Committee to coordinate their activities.

“Taking this opportunity, I congratulate the Russian Federation on the excellent result achieved at the elections. At the same time, I express my gratitude to all parties for their support in the re-election of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the ITU Council. As a result, Azerbaijan, like Russia, became a country that was twice elected as a member of the ITU Council in the history of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications. The election of a representative of our communications administration to the ITU Radio Regulations Board (RRB) is also a high achievement,” the Minister stressed.

Ramin Guluzade noted that Azerbaijan conducted a fair and decent campaign of agitation during the elections. “Together we tried to strengthen our representation in the Council. The result is the product of our joint activities. At today’s meeting, other issues related to our joint activities within the RCC will be discussed as well. I am sure that decisions to be adopted at the meeting will further expand useful cooperation between communications administrations. I wish success and fruitful work to the participants of the meeting”, the Minister said.

The meeting participants highly appreciated the work of the RCC delegations at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference. It was noted that the ITU Secretariat formed 35 RCC documents on the basis of 29 proposals for consideration at the current Plenipotentiary Conference.

It was reported that the Plenipotentiary Conference at its first plenary meeting approved one of the most important general proposals of the RCC for the development of ITU strategic and financial plans for 2020-2023.

Another important issue of the meeting was the issue of digital development in the RCC member countries. In the process of exchanging views on this issue, the participants discussed priorities and solutions to digital development.

Speaking at the panel, Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmir Velizade said that the task of formation of a digital economy in Azerbaijan is reflected in the National Strategy for the Development of the Information Society adopted in 2014, as well as in 12 Strategic Road Maps adopted in 2016 and covering all sectors of the economy. The Deputy Minister stressed that there are special sections on the introduction and use of ICT in each Roadmap.

“Moreover, an Action Plan is being developed for the transition to digital government. Besides, innovative development of the economy in the country is a priority. The necessary infrastructure is being formed and legislative basis for innovative development is being developed. The legislation provides for certain benefits for innovation development, and from next year these conditions will be further improved. The mechanisms of financial and organizational support are provided for small and medium-sized businesses, attracting foreign investment and expanding the production of ICT products in the country, organizing the activities of new companies and startups. Business entities are provided with preferential loans and grants for the establishment, development of business and the provision of competitive services or the manufacture of products and access to world markets,” Elmir Velizade said.

The Deputy Minister also noted that a specialized Agency for Innovations was established under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 6, 2018. The Agency will support and develop innovative activities in the country, apply mechanisms for financial support to business entities, and promote innovative activity.

Then, the methodology for calculating indicators for the development of the digital market in the RCC countries, prepared by the Communications Administration of Azerbaijan, was reviewed.

The next important issue discussed by the meeting participants was the issue of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the RCC countries.

The issue of introducing changes to the “Agreement on cooperation in the development and use of cellular mobile communication systems” dated January 17, 1997 was also considered.

It should be noted that a protocol to make amendments to the “Agreement on cooperation in the development and use of cellular mobile communication systems” was signed at the meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of Government in Astana on November 2, 2018.

The meeting also amended the regulations of the high-level working group that exists to promote the development of the information society in the RCC countries. The work of the chairman of the working group is fixed on a permanent basis in the regulations. According to the decision of the Council, the representative of Azerbaijan Elmir Velizade was appointed chairman of the working group.

At the end of the event, active participants in the work of ITU Plenipotentiary Conference were awarded orders and medals, as well as diplomas. Among those awarded were representatives of Azerbaijan and Russia, as well as other communications administrations and the Executive Committee.

Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ramin Guluzade, and Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of Russia Konstantin Noskov were awarded orders of the RCC.