Ramin Guluzade made speech at United Nations Public Service Forum
The United Nations Public Service Forum (UNPSF), jointly organized by the United Nations (UN) and the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, took place at Heydar Aliyev Center.
The purpose of the event was to discuss and exchange experiences on public administration, the most advanced models of public service delivery, innovations and topical issues.
Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade delivered a speech at the event on “Role of innovations and high technologies in digitalization of Azerbaijan”.
Ramin Guluzade praised the holding of Public Service Forum in Azerbaijan as an important event and emphasized that the forum was dedicated to topical issues.
The Minister spoke in detail about the digital transformation and its role in the world today: “Information technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, processing of large-scale data and cloud computing as contemporary trends make revolutionary changes in all areas. These new trends of information technologies play a great role in improving public administration, decision-making, management of state information systems, digital transformation of public services and improving their quality. In recent years, the “cloud” technologies have been widely used in the formation of digital government. These technologies play a crucial role in improving government management structures and strengthening IT infrastructure, increasing productivity and operational efficiency in government agencies, as well as business entities.”
Speaking on “Government Cloud”, which is one of today’s most important technological trends in public administration, Ramin Guluzade stressed the Decree on “Establishing Government Cloud and measures for rendering cloud services” signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated June 3, 2019 and the “Government Cloud” Concept approved by that Decree will give impetus to the digital development in Azerbaijan.
The “Government Cloud” is being created in the infrastructure of the Data Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MTCHT). This TIER III Data Center is the first Data Center in the South Caucasus region. In accordance with the Decree, the MTCHT has been appointed the operator of the “Government Cloud”. Today, the MTCHT conducts inventory and examination of information resources and systems of government agencies. As a result of inventory and expertise, a transition plan will be developed. According to that transition plan, gradual migration of state information systems to the “Government Cloud” will be ensured,” – the Minister said.
Ramin Guluzade also emphasized the need to increase investment activity for innovation-oriented, science and technology-based production for the country’s digital transformation, to create innovation clusters and to develop a “research-innovation” model.
According to him, ASAN Service is one of the highest models of public service in the field of social innovation.
Minister Ramin Guluzade also said that there is a separate cluster of agrotech on the application of high technologies in agriculture, financial technologies, new banking products and fintech innovations on digital currencies. The Innovation Agency established under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies by relevant Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2018 will play a special role in the formation of these and other clusters in our country and in accelerating these processes. The Minister recalled the Memorandum of Understanding signed last month at the Fintex event on the development of fintech area between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, the Central Bank, the Financial Markets Supervisory Authority, the Center for Analysis of Economic Reform and Communication and the Azerbaijan Banks Association. In general, there is need for the cooperation between the Agency and public agencies and private organizations for the formation of clusters in our country.
He underlined that digital transformation, large-scale application of new trends put cyber security at the forefront, and the government is currently working on adopting the cyber security strategy of the country. At the same time, the increase of knowledge in this area is one of the key issues in the training of qualified personnel. At the end of his speech, the Minister said that he believes that the ideas voiced at the forum would lead the public and private sectors to a stronger partnership.
