Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Rapidly developing Azerbaijan has always tried to assist in the economic growth of other countries along with facilitating their steady development. Afghanistan is among those countries in which Azerbaijan invests by joining several social and economic projects. Recently, it was announced that Azerbaijan plans to invest in the country's ICT sector.

"The development of telecommunications infrastructure and information technologies in Afghanistan, building e-government systems, investment by Azerbaijani investors in the ICT sector of the country are the subject of discussions with the relevant ministry of Afghanistan, and first steps have already been taken in this direction," Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Jan Kubis has said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov.

Kubis said that the UNDP, with the support of donor countries and organizations, is working on a new project for the economic development of Afghanistan, and as a non-permanent member of UN Security Council Azerbaijan's involvement in this process is desirable.

Recalling a recent visit of the Azerbaijani communications ministry's special representative to Afghanistan, Kubis noted that after preliminary analysis and discussions with relevant agencies, the preparation of a special package of proposals began.

Kubis appreciated the ministry's joining such initiatives, stressing that he had the opportunity to closely familiarize himself with Azerbaijan's achievements in the ICT sector during a forum organized two years ago as part of the Bakutel exhibition and conference.

Kubis said that if Azerbaijan applies relevant experience in this country, it will be possible to see development in the ICT field in Afghanistan, as in Azerbaijan, expressing hope that the UN, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan would work together in this area.

"If Azerbaijan attracts Afghan specialists to trainings in the areas of ICT where it has more experience, it will be more fruitful," he said.

Welcoming the proposal, Minister Abbasov said that his country will establish the University of Information Technologies and along with experts from other countries, Afghan experts will also be able to attend trainings to be conducted there.

"The cooperation between the two countries will also be continued in the future, and comprehensive work will be carried out to gain experience in the field of ICT," Abbasov said.

Azerbaijan also plans to assist Afghanistan in the application of e-services in customs.

In January, chairman of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev said that Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience in this field with other countries.

"We are planning to pay a visit to Afghanistan at the end of next month," he said. "There is a relevant agreement which is welcomed by international organizations. We will help Afghanistan in this regard."

Besides, Azerbaijan will also take an active part in the social development of Afghanistan through the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States.

During the meeting of foreign ministers of the Council on the sidelines of the 12th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Cairo, which Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov attended, the ministers agreed to further step up the work of the organization and to implement joint social projects in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the peacekeeping contingent of the Azerbaijani armed forces has been serving under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 2002. The Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent started serving with 22-people-strong personnel and the number of the contingent was increased in 2008 and reached the level of a detachment.

The Azerbaijani parliament passed a decision in October 2009 to double the number of peacekeepers in Afghanistan to 90. The Azerbaijani servicemen are serving under the Turkish contingent in ISAF. Detachment personnel is protecting the TV tower in Kabul and an ISAF munitions storage as well as carrying out patrol service.

But after NATO officially ends its mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, Azerbaijan also intends to withdraw peacekeepers from there.