Azerbaijan, ITU align on digital growth, global cooperation, innovation PHOTO

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov held a high-level meeting with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, underlining the country’s commitment to advancing digital development and regional innovation.

The meeting highlighted the significance of the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), hosted in Baku for the first time in the South Caucasus and Central Asia region, which brought together 2,500 specialists from around the globe. Both parties emphasized the importance of the newly inaugurated ITU Regional Acceleration Center in Baku, expressing confidence that it would emerge as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Prime Minister Asadov outlined Azerbaijan’s ongoing efforts to develop the ICT sector, advance the information and knowledge economy, expand artificial intelligence applications, and strengthen digital infrastructure while countering cyber threats. “President Ilham Aliyev has declared the development of the ICT sector a national priority,” Asadov said, noting the recent approval of the Digital Development Concept and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2025–2028.

The Prime Minister also highlighted Azerbaijan’s regional leadership, with the country achieving 100% broadband internet coverage. He emphasized that the advancement of high technologies has enabled the implementation of the “smart city/smart village” concept, introducing a unique and innovative urban planning model that is being applied extensively in the liberated territories.

Discussions further explored prospects for enhanced cooperation between Azerbaijan and the ITU in areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, e-government, and broader ICT initiatives. Both sides stressed the value of leveraging the ITU’s international expertise, particularly in digital governance and digital skills development, to further strengthen Azerbaijan’s digital ecosystem.

Additionally, the meeting addressed expanding Azerbaijani representation in the ITU’s governing bodies and working groups, extending Azerbaijan’s membership on the ITU Council for the next term, and other items on the bilateral cooperation agenda.

By Vafa Guliyeva