IT sector to fetch as much as oil in a decade
The revenues of Azerbaijan`s communication and
information technologies sector will be equal to those brought in
by the oil sector by 2018, Minister of Communication and
Information Technologies Ali Abbasov has said.
The minister said if the project on the establishment of regional innovation zones is implemented, this will give an impetus to the IT sector development in Azerbaijan. The tariff benefits envisaged in this regard will facilitate the development of small and medium-sized businesses. "If our plans are successfully implemented, the revenues fetched by the IT sector will rise from $1 billion at present to $4 billion in 2013 and $12 billion in 2016. In 2018-2020, the IT revenues will reach those of the oil sector," Abbasov said.
The minister added that the average annual growth in the IT sector was 34-35% during the last five years. Over these years, Azerbaijan has expanded its IT potential 4.5 times. The number of Internet users in the country has increased 20 times in 2000-2007. At present, their number has reached 1.5 million.
He said the IT sector was the third largest tax generating industry in Azerbaijan, next to the oil industry and the construction sector. He said the communication sector commands 6-7% of revenues in developed countries of the world. In Azerbaijan, however, this figure remains low.
The minister said if the project on the establishment of regional innovation zones is implemented, this will give an impetus to the IT sector development in Azerbaijan. The tariff benefits envisaged in this regard will facilitate the development of small and medium-sized businesses. "If our plans are successfully implemented, the revenues fetched by the IT sector will rise from $1 billion at present to $4 billion in 2013 and $12 billion in 2016. In 2018-2020, the IT revenues will reach those of the oil sector," Abbasov said.
The minister added that the average annual growth in the IT sector was 34-35% during the last five years. Over these years, Azerbaijan has expanded its IT potential 4.5 times. The number of Internet users in the country has increased 20 times in 2000-2007. At present, their number has reached 1.5 million.
He said the IT sector was the third largest tax generating industry in Azerbaijan, next to the oil industry and the construction sector. He said the communication sector commands 6-7% of revenues in developed countries of the world. In Azerbaijan, however, this figure remains low.
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