Azerbaijan-UK discuss co-op in ICT
By Nigar Orujova
The British - Azerbaijani Forum on High-Technologies came to an end successfully in London, the Azerbaijan Communications and High Technologies Ministry reported.
A delegation led by Azerbaijan's Communications and High Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov visited London on June 23-25 at the invitation of the UK Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries and Secretary General of Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
The forum, attended by 150 people from both sides, was focused on strengthening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UK in the field of communications and high technologies, increasing the awareness of the UK companies on opportunities existing for the development of this field in Azerbaijan, and promotion of experience and innovations on this field.
Abbasov and member of the British Parliament, Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Trade Affairs in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan Charles Hendry addressed the opening ceremony, which was held in the Dorchester Hotel.
During the event, Azerbaijani companies provided detailed information on ongoing reforms, works done in this area in the country and their future plans.
It was noted that the main targets of the Azerbaijani government were establishing technology infrastructures, offering services in line with the international standards, development of scientific and technological potential in the field of high technologies - including directions of aerospace, nuclear, nanotechnology, biotechnology, electronics - and increasing the role of e-government through improvement of information security and human resources.
The forum's participants were provided with information about the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes by the National Nuclear Research Center, activities of High Technologies Park, as well as projects like Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM), telecommunications satellite Azerspace-1- which serves to turn Azerbaijan into ICT center between East and West- observation satellite that will be launched into orbit in 2016, second telecommunications satellite whose launch is scheduled for 2017, Sumgait Technologies Park, the Baku White City project and so on.
It was also noted that the goal of the public investment in the development of communications and high technologies industry is to increase revenues in this area by 2020.
Then, some presentations were made by UK companies, and meetings were held between the sides in B2B (Business to Business) format, where bilateral relations and future prospects were discussed.
The forum ended with a cultural event organized by the Azerbaijani government. The forum was also attended by Fakhraddin Qurbanov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UK.
During the visit, Minister Abbasov attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum.
Speaking at the forum, Abbasov told talked about the ongoing reforms in this sphere in Azerbaijan, as well as global issues in the field of ICT and the Internet.
As part of the forum, Abbasov also held bilateral meetings with UK Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Ed Vaizey, ministers of communications and information technologies of Pakistan and France and discussed possible areas and future prospects of cooperation.
During the visit, Abbasov and British Minister of State for Trade and Investment Lord Livingston exchanged views on promoting and encouraging mutual investments. Following, he met with the leaders of the London City Hall.
Furthermore, Abbasov held a meeting with Trudy Norris-Grey, Microsoft Regional Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, where they discussed the issues of legalization of computer systems. Besides that, several meetings were held with the leaders of several technology companies.
Minister Abbasov became closely familiar with the work of chemical engineering laboratory of the Imperial College in the UK, and stressed the importance of establishing such laboratories in relevant universities of Azerbaijan for personnel training.