Azerbaijan prioritize areas for development of IT Parks
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan's Communications and High Technologies Ministry defined priority areas for development of IT Technological Parks across the country, a source in the Ministry told Trend on September 4.
"A concept, developed by the Ministry, sets a new approach and provides formation about a branch network of the IT Technological Park throughout the country," the source said. "This concept covers a period of constructing a high-technologies park, which can take about two years."
The source said that during this period, the country's enterprises such as KUR Mingachevir Plant for Production of Computer Equipment and Billur Ganja Plant or higher educational institutions will be able to carry out the tasks of branches of the technological park which are under construction.
Entrepreneurs will be able to implement their projects at these plants or universities.
The technical control over the design process is being carried out by the U.S.-based company Hill International. This is part of the construction project of the IT Technological Park.
Following the company's development of a document on technical control, a tender will be made to attract a contractor to comply with architectural and construction works.
IT-Technological Park is under construction in 50 hectares land area in Pirallahi district of Baku.
The new facility will be an area with the necessary infrastructure, logistics and governing entities for conducting research in ICT, telecommunications and space use, energy efficiency, and the development of new and high technologies.
Residents and companies operating in the park will be exempt from the 18 percent VAT on imported infrastructural and technological goods and services. The park participants will also be exempt from tax and customs duty for seven years.
The park's activity is expected to expand the ICT sector based on current scientific and technological achievements, and to ensure the creation of modern complexes for research and development of new information technologies.
The park will play an important role in the sustainable development of economy and competitiveness.
The beginning of the Park's activities will ensure the creation of modern complexes for research, and the development of new information technologies. The Park will also play an important role in the sustainable development of economy and competitiveness in the country.
Earlier the Ministry said it also prepares a proposal for the creation of a free trade area of high-tech products.
The negotiations on the feasibility of this project are underway with several countries.
"The project is primarily aimed at expanding of the IT market. The matter rests in enabling the business sector to implement free trade in certain types of IT products and services. The project can be launched as a piloted one with one of the countries in the region, for example, with Georgia," the ministry said.
The Ministry also expressed its willingness to assist the local IT companies in the expansion into foreign markets.