Formation of e-government in Azerbaijan is one of the important tasks resulting from the “National Strategy for information and communications technologies for the development of Azerbaijan Republic” approved by national leader Heydar Aliyev in 2003. The special attention and direct control of President Ilham Aliyev to this issue has created conditions for the the introduction of e-government ideas in public administration and in all areas of social life, to establish relations between officials and citizens in a new plane, ensure transparency and satisfy information demand.
Work on the creation of e-government has accelerated substantially since the adoption of the “State Program on development of communication and information technologies in Azerbaijan Republic in 2005-2008” (Electronic Azerbaijan), and the work is now continued in accordance with the second State Program Electronic Azerbaijan, covering 2010-2012 years, and the program of activities for the formation of “e-government” in the country. Along with these programs, the project “e-government’ is being implemented within 20 state programs approved on economic and social areas. Formation of the necessary legal and regulatory framework and infrastructure for the activities of e-government, the introduction of e- payment systems has created good conditions to simplify the relationship between the population and government agencies, to provide high-quality services, to establish business activities in accordance with modern requirements.In order to use an electronic signature in the country, created public key infrastructure (PKI), and National Certificate Services Center were established and in September 2011 the Center began issuing electronic signatures to public authorities, citizens and business entities. The introduction of e-signature will serve to increase the use of electronic services by the population, the provision of a high quality and safe services and the promotion of e-government and e-commerce.
At present the majority of the top 20 e-services are provided in the country, rendered to civil society and the business sector in the EU, including: issuing official documents, customs and tax returns, statistical reports, job search through the employment agencies, acception of electronic applications for participation in test examinations for admission to universities and civil service, etc.Decree # 429 of the President of Azerbaijan “On some measures in the field of provision of electronic services by public authorities” dated May 23, 2011 put in the forefront the organization of e-services, and accelerated the work on the organization of public administration based on modern principles, increase the efficiency and transparency of government agencies and prevent corruption.With the view of fulfilling tasks emanating from the provisions of the decree, regulations were developed in accordance with international experience, range of e-services were determined and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic for the central authorities to provide services in electronic form. E-services rendered by public authorities, in particular those that are carried out in direct contact with the public, including: registration of private entrepreneurs and companies with limited activity with local investment, issuing statements and certificates on real estate, the declaration of imported and exported goods, reporting on mandatory state social insurance and information about the insured person, receiving applications for targeted social aid, installation of telephone and Internet connection, etc. have been provided in electronic form and work in this direction continues.
State portal www.e-gov.az was placed in operation to create conditions for the citizens to benefit from e-services provided by government agencies on a ‘single window’ principle, which combines the services here. Along with the portal, a gateway e-government was also established in order to ensure mutual exchange of information between government agencies, and 42 state agencies are connected to this infrastructure. The gateway E-Government provides efficient use of the existing government information systems, ensuring a safe contact between them, when issuing queries and rendering e-services, makes it possible not to ask citizens of the documents available in information systems.
Organizational activity on the formation of e-government, including the execution of the tasks arising from the instructions on the organization of e-services are being continued.
Personal data
Rapid development of information technologies in our time, their application in all spheres of life, collection and processing of personal data through the use of new technologies puts in the forefront the need to ensure the protection of personal data on the international level. To this end, as far back as January 28, 1981 the European Council adopted a Convention for the “Protection of Individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data”. Azerbaijan joined the Convention in 2009.
In May 2010, Azerbaijan Republic adopted a law “On personal data” to regulate the relations connected with the collection, processing and protection of personal data, the formation of the section of personal data in the national information space, as well as issues related to the cross-border transfer of personal data to define the rights and obligations of public bodies and local authorities, individuals and legal entities operating in this area.
Personal data means any information that allows for directly or indirectly determine the identity of the person. This includes name, surname, patronymic, date of birth, other information contained in the documents of identity, as well as data revealing racial or ethnic origin, family life, religious faith and beliefs, health or criminal record of an individual.
At present, the country has formed the necessary legal framework for the protection of personal data.
State Register of personal data information systems
“The rules of the state register of information systems of individual information” was approved by the decree of Azerbaijani President dated October 4, 2010, and keeping the state register of personal data was entrusted to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies (MCIT).
The Ministry also carries out state registration of information systems of personal data and cancellation of registration.
According to the “The rules of state registration of personal data information systems and the cancellation of state registration”, approved by the Decision № 149 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic on August 17, 2010, the collection and processing of personal data in information systems is allowed only after their registration.
In accordance with the Law of Azerbaijan Republic “On Personal Data”, the formation of information resources of personal data and creation of information systems, their service can be
The notion of “information society”, as used in the present day wording, was first mentioned in the early 60’s of the last century in Japan, has become scientific-theoretical research object for over 50 years now.
Generally, philosophical meaning of information society is to meet the information needs and knowledge of mankind, to creat social and communicative environment, to bring knowledge and understanding, to deliver the information they want to the public. The main objective of this conception is creating a sufficient amount of information and with the help of this process, on the one hand, to address the challenges facing the humanity, and on the other hand, to ensure the development of the society.
In other words, the information society is a society in which most part of the population is engaged in the preservation, production, processing and transmission of information, and most importantly its highest form - knowledge through the use of modern information technologies.
Significant strides have been made in this direction in Azerbaijan in recent years for mass distribution of information technologies and for the development of this area, success has been received due to government support and care.
Information and communication technologies (ICT) have entered into a new stage of development in the country. ICT opportunities are widely used in the interaction of government agencies, businesses and the population now. The ICT sector was declared to be the second priority area after oil industry. It is no coincidence, in his speeches President Ilham Aliyev repeatedly emphasized the exceptional importance of information technologies for the country’s economy.
Today relevance and value of the use of ICT in business, politics, governance, public health, culture, science, education, industry and other fields were fully understood in the public awareness. Nowadays creation of civil society, which has ample opportunity to obtain information, is an important step for the future of human civilization. Nowadays it is an opportunity to learn to build strong civil society is an important step towards the future of human civilization.At present introduction of ICT promotes socio-economic development of every country and plays an effective role in the issue of poverty reduction.In Azerbaijan, the basic features of the computerized society is the creation of the global information environment, the emergence of new forms of socio- economic activity (distant education, e-commerce, flexiplace, e-democracy and e-government), the formation of the market of information and knowledge, the development of means of communication at various levels , ensuring the rights to reception, distribution and use of any information by citizens and organizations, etc.
The process of informatization of society will raise productivity in all sectors of economy, lower prices, introduction of e-document circulation system in state authorities, promote e-commerce, improve the quality of products and services.
The Internet started to develop in Azerbaijan in 1993. The first Azerbaijani website was created in 1994 by the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, and the website of the President of Azerbaijan Republic, which was founded in 1997, became the first public Internet resource.
Administration of the national top-level domain AZ has been carried out since 1993.
From the first days the Internet developed by mainly private sector. Until 2000, the activities of Internet service providers (ISP) were conducted under a special permit (license), but in 2000 the licensing of such services was canceled, as a result of this any natural or legal person in the country is free to engage in the activity.
Currently, there are about 40 Internet service providers in the country, of which only three are state agencies (Aztelekomnet, Bakinternet and Azdatakom).
ISPs operate in a healthy competition and a free market environment.Companies use wired and wireless communication technologies for access to the Internet. Application of WiMax and other wireless technologies are expanded.
Connection of the country to the international Internet network is provided by two private companies (Delta Telekom and Azertelekom), which creates an alternative choice for ISPs.
All three mobile operators in the country provide its subscribers with high speed internet access and provide 3G services. In general, if we take into account the fact that mobile penetration in Azerbaijan exceeded 100%, then we can actually say that every person has access to the Internet.
The broadband access to the Internet in the country started in 2006, and in recent years there has been significant growth in the number of broadband internet users.
The main reason for this is the result of the execution of public policies carried out for the development of ICT sector in the country, the expansion of e-government projects, increasing the role of the Internet in rendering of services.
