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BSEC discusses challenges of Azerbaijan's high tech

3 December 2014 18:24 (UTC+04:00)
BSEC discusses challenges of Azerbaijan's high tech

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan will chair the Commission of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation on Science and Technologies in 2014-2016 years, Azerbaijan’s Communications and High Technology Minister Ali Abbasov said at a ministerial meeting on Science and Technologies of the BSEC.

The chairmanship was taken from Turkey.

The ministerial meeting of the BSEC started in Azerbaijan’s capital on December 3.

"During the meeting, a plan of cooperation between members on Science and Technologies for 2014-2018 years will be discussed. The plan provides new way for cooperation in such areas as innovation, human resource development, development of scientific potential," he added.

The Minister stressed strengthening of cooperation in these areas, as well as in the field of human resources development and application of science and technology for social development among the challenges facing the member-countries of the BSEC.

Moreover, the discussion will include a project initiated by Azerbaijan on construction of the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM), which was supported by the UN General Assembly.

Abbasov said Azerbaijani scientists are actively involved in the implementation of economic reforms. In addition, the Azerbaijani scientists are collaborating with more than 250 research centers from 47 countries.

However, there is still lack of interaction between science, economy and industry in Azerbaijan. The amount of funding of science in Azerbaijan is 0.2 percent of the country’s GDP, he added.

"Currently, we are facing the problem of implementation of achievements of scientific research in the social and economic life. Today, there is a lack of interaction between science, economy and industry," Abbasov noted.

The minister also highlighted lack of presence of large multinational companies in the market which could lead to development and promotion of products. This hinders the development of high technologies.

"In the structure of expenditures on science in developed countries, 60-80 percent falls on the private sector, which is also financing the research section. Azerbaijan is rich in natural resources and as the result of a successful policy is socially and economically stabile.

"Our main goal is to minimize dependence of our economy on oil and gas sector in accordance with the concept of ‘Azerbaijan 2020: a look into the future’,” Abbasov added.

The priority goals set for Azerbaijan are to double GDP attributable to per capita until 2020, which is planned to be provided through the development of non-oil sector, particularly the ICT sector. One of the main issues of innovative development in the country, he went on to say, is commercialization of scientific research and development.

"The best practice of different countries confirms that this [innovative development] can be achieved by applying a special tax policy, customs privileges and protection of intellectual property. The acceptable customs and tariff policy plays a very important role in this respect and today import of high-tech equipment is exempted from VAT and customs duties in Azerbaijan," he said.

Declaration adopted

Science and Technology Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation’s member-states have adopted an action plan and a declaration on cooperation in Baku.

Secretary General of BSEC Victor Tsvirkun emphasized the importance of this meeting that will give an impetus to the expansion of cooperation in the field of science and technology.

"The BSEC Working Group on Cooperation in the field of science and technology has demonstrated the best way to coordinate between the countries, starting this year, when Azerbaijan accepts the chairmanship.

“Science and technology are included in the priority areas of cooperation from the establishment of the working group in 1994. The BSEC's mission is to promote cooperation among the member-countries of the organization in this field," he added.

Tsvirkun said, until today 25 meetings of the Working Group and three meetings of Ministers of Science and Technologies were held, during which declarations and related documents were adopted. In particular, he drew attention to the two recent action plans for cooperation in this field, which covered the period from 2005 to 2009 and from 2010 to 2014.

"These documents have created an appropriate platform for further cooperation in science and technologies. In June 2012, a new economic program of the BSEC was adopted, that defined goals and obstacles that must be overcome in the coming years," he added.

BSEC is an intergovernmental organization, consisting of 12 states: Azerbaijan, Albania, Bulgaria, Armenia, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

In June 1992, the heads of state and government of eleven countries signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosporus Statement, giving birth to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

It came into existence as a model of multilateral political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among the member states, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity encouraging friendly relations in the Black Sea region.

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