Azerbaijan, Croatia to cooperate in ICT
By Nigar Abbasova
Azerbaijan, which is a regional leader in the ICT sector, intends to expand its international cooperation to further develop the sector.
SPAN, one of the largest Croatian IT companies engaged in software development and system integration, is ready to create joint ventures in Azerbaijan.
SPAN Chairman Nikola Dujmovic told Trend that the company decided to open its office in Azerbaijan. He mentioned that SPAN Azerbaijan is being created with a 100-percent Croatian share, but in the future Croatia is ready to establish joint ventures with Azerbaijani companies.
SPAN started working in Azerbaijan three years ago on the automation and CRM (customer relationship management) projects in telecommunications. The company cooperates with banks, mobile operators, oil companies and state agencies in Azerbaijan.
Dujmovic added that the company is specialized in cybersecurity and is ready to offer Azerbaijan a number of high technologies.
Moreover, the company may provide certain services to support financial sector of the country, including banking, insurance and other spheres.
Dujmovic clarified that the services may cover cooperation both in the field of cyber security and the consolidation of the infrastructure, as well as mobile banking, which in turn may significantly expand the customer base.
In addition, Dujmovic expressed hope that the company’s first steps in Azerbaijani market will be taken at BakuTel exhibition, which is due to be held in late November, while a number of proposals are developed jointly with Microsoft.
He added that the services offered are attractive first of all by lower prices compared to services of other similar companies.
SPAN’s offices are also present in the UK, the US, Czech Republic and Slovenia. Moreover, the company is considered to be a major exporter of intellectual property in Croatia.
Regarding further expansion of the company’s business in Azerbaijan and in the South Caucasus region, the chairman of SPAN said his company currently plans to develop its activities only in Baku and the company doesn’t consider entering markets of other countries of the region.
ICT is considered to be one of the crucial spheres for the further development of the economy and an integral part of the economic and political reforms which are currently implemented in Azerbaijan.
The milestone events in the ICT sector of Azerbaijan includes creation and developing of the E-government system, expanding the broadband internet services, launch of the telecommunication and low-orbit satellites.
The volume of investments made in the sphere of ICT and postal services amounted to 209.8 million manats ($ 129.4 million) in January-September 2016. The volume increased twofold as compared to the same period of 2016, while the index amounted to some 1.8 percent of the total volume of investments made in the economy of the country.
The income obtained in the sector in Azerbaijan is projected to hit $9 billion by 2020.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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