Azerbaijan Holds First Digital Development Council Meeting to Advance AI, Cybersecurity and Innovation Agenda
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan’s First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva chaired the inaugural meeting of the Digital Development Council on Monday, underscoring the government’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and innovation as key pillars of national development.
Opening the meeting, Mehriban Aliyeva said the Council was established following directives issued by President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting in February dedicated to Azerbaijan’s new digital development strategy.
She noted that the 2026–2028 Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development had been approved, providing a comprehensive roadmap for advancing digitalization, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the country’s innovation ecosystem over the next three years.
“The Council’s main task is to coordinate the activities of various state institutions, establish a unified approach, and ensure the timely and effective implementation of the adopted decisions,” she said.
Mehriban Aliyeva stressed that the objective extends beyond introducing new technologies to creating a modern innovation ecosystem, attracting domestic and foreign investment, supporting local startups, improving public administration and strengthening Azerbaijan’s economy.
She described artificial intelligence as a key driver of global development, noting that its growing role in national security requires governments to address emerging cybersecurity and information security challenges.
“Our goal is to transform Azerbaijan into one of the leading countries in the region in the fields of digital development and artificial intelligence,” she said, adding that international best practices would be studied while ensuring all policies serve Azerbaijan’s national interests.
During the meeting, Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev presented a progress report on implementing the Action Plan.
He said the strategy comprises 58 initiatives covering digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation and cybersecurity. Roadmaps have been prepared with 40 government institutions, with 13 already approved or in the final stages of approval.
Nabiyev also outlined progress on establishing a National Data Center and migrating government information systems to a government cloud platform.
He reported that the number of users of the mygov digital services platform had increased from 2.7 million to 3.5 million over the past three months, while additional government services have been integrated. Services from seven more state applications are expected to become available on the platform before the end of the year.
The minister said artificial intelligence remains one of the Action Plan’s highest priorities, with AI-powered solutions being expanded across the mygov platform and other government institutions, including the introduction of a virtual citizen assistant.
He further announced the establishment of the Azerbaijan Resilience Cluster to unite companies working to strengthen the country’s technological sovereignty. Efforts are also underway to establish a National Security Operations Center, a National Cyber Incident Response Center and a Digital Forensics Center, alongside a unified national cybersecurity platform to facilitate information sharing between the public and private sectors.
Presidential Assistant Shahmar Movsumov briefed the Council on legislative reforms supporting the country’s digital transformation.
He said the reforms, being developed under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and coordinated by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, represent one of the most comprehensive digital legislative initiatives in the post-Soviet region.
According to Movsumov, the reforms focus on strengthening legal certainty, creating a competitive tax environment, financing innovation, promoting scientific research, attracting talent, expanding market access and enhancing cybersecurity regulation, while drawing on international best practices.
Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev also presented progress on digitalizing the education sector.
He highlighted initiatives including the expansion of a unified internet network for educational institutions, the Digital School project, digitalization of educational records and documents, and plans to introduce digital teaching methods.
Amrullayev said the Digital Skills and STEAM Azerbaijan programmes continue to strengthen students’ digital competencies, emphasizing that developing human capital remains a central priority in Azerbaijan’s digital transformation agenda.
The meeting concluded with discussions on the implementation of the country’s digital development strategy and future priorities aimed at positioning Azerbaijan as a regional leader in digital innovation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
