World Telecommunication Development Conference

On 16 November 2025, the “ITU Global Youth Celebration 2025” of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) was held in Baku.

The event, attended by more than 500 delegates from over 60 countries, aimed to bring together young innovators, government officials, and industry leaders to encourage youth participation in shaping the future of digital development.

For the first time in the CIS region, the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) was held in Baku from 17 to 28 November 2025.

The event was organized in partnership between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The conference was dedicated to the theme “Universal, Meaningful, and Accessible Connectivity for an Inclusive and Sustainable Digital Future.” Representatives from more than 160 countries and international organizations attended the event.

During the opening ceremony, Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev delivered the address of President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the conference participants. The message highlighted Azerbaijan’s commitment to promoting global digital development and ensuring inclusive connectivity for all.

High-level plenary sessions and dialogues held over the two-week period provided an opportunity for extensive discussions on both regional and international digital development strategies.

ITU member countries  reached an agreement on a roadmap aimed at ensuring universal access to the internet for everyone worldwide. During the conference, the Baku Action Plan, the Baku Declaration, and a package of resolutions were adopted.

It should be noted that within the framework of the World Telecommunication Development Conference, the Network of Women in ITU-D (NoW in ITU-D) , part of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector, organized a special event in Baku. The event was held to support women’s leadership in the field of information and communication technologies and to encourage their more active participation in decision-making processes.

Additionally, during the conference, several countries organized social events. This format provided delegations with the opportunity to present their initiatives in order to gain support in the upcoming elections to the ITU Council.