Ministry of Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Against the background of rapidly development of high technologies, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on February 20, 2004 on abolishing Communications Ministry and establishing on its basis Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies.It was an important step taken for future development of this sphere and creation opportunities for every citizen to enjoy modern information communications technologies.The development of ICT and its comprehensive application became one of major directions of Azerbaijan Republic on the way of forming a new high technology and knowledge-based economy. Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies, being responsible state body for this field and coordinator of relevant State Program, organized many-branched activities in the direction of upgrading of telecommunications infrastructure, application of new technologies, improvement of regulating functions, regulation and liberalization of ICT market as well as enhancement of production potential of this sphere. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared the use of information and communication technologies in Azerbaijan a priority sector at a conference held on February 13, 2007, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the state program on "Socio-economic development of Azerbaijani regions (in 2004-2008)”. More and more attention has been paid to the development of this sector since then, application of information technologies in all spheres of life is of great importance for the government, because today ICT plays the role of catalyst of competitiveness and economic growth. Over the past years, the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MCIT) has established relations in multilateral platforms both at bilateral and regional and international levels. The ministry has established close ties with international and regional organizations, and the process of country’s recognition for entry to a group of leading countries in the sphere of ICT, telecommunications, mail as well as satellite communications has been completed. The position of Azerbaijan has been strengthened in influential international organizations such as in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Universal Postal Union (UPU), the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communication (RCC), UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), European Union, Council of Europe, l Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO), Intersputnik, World Economic Forum, Forum of Muslim Youth and dozens of other international organizations. Their visits to our country and effective meetings with the leaders of these organizations were organized. As a result of the established close and effective relationships in the international arena, Azerbaijan has strengthed its position in the world.