Dear Friends!

Esteemed Guests!

I extend my greetings and congratulations to all of you on the opening of the information technologies exhibition and conference. It is very remarkable event, and this conference and exhibition has become traditional in Azerbaijan. However, this conference is different from the previous one as there is an increasing interest in the conference; at the same time, the path that Azerbaijan has passed, in particular, our policy towards information technologies give us grounds to say that Azerbaijan strengthens its regional positions in this direction. We want Azerbaijan to become an ICT leader in the region. We are eager to attract world’s leading companies to Azerbaijan, and apply the most progressive experience. There are all opportunities to do it.

It could be seen in the film demonstrated here that the national ICT strategy adopted at the initiative of the national leader Heydar Aliyev as early as 2003. After that, respective legislation was improved; new laws were adopted. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies was set up in 2004. In other words, it indicates that the state pays a great attention and shows the interest towards this sector. On one hand, it is a very important factor for the overall development of Azerbaijan; on the other hand, it is the sector, which brings novelties to Azerbaijan. Our country develops, gets modernized; we strengthen our economic potential. In this case, one of our major duties is to bring world’s most advanced technologies to Azerbaijan.

There is a great outlook in this sector both for Azerbaijan and world. Now, scientific and technological progress is first seen in the ICT sector. It is natural because this sector has a bright outlook with the ICT products applied in the people’s everyday life. Azerbaijan’s overall development, modernization wants us to bring world’s most advanced practices to Azerbaijan, apply and distribute here.

You know, diversification of Azerbaijan’s economy is one of our priorities. Our economy must be diversified. Development of the non-oil sector is one of the key challenges in the economy. Azerbaijan achieved great success in the oil sector. Azerbaijan’s successful oil strategy paves the way for Azerbaijan to develop. We are independent state from the economic point of view. In terms of energy security, we are independent state, and, moreover, we play our own role in the energy security for the region, in the wide sense, for Europe, and this role will increase. Our successful oil strategy establishes groundwork for the overall development of Azerbaijan’s economic potential.

Azerbaijan’s economic growth was 26% last year, and, it has grown more than 30% for the past eight months. It is the figure, which has no analogues in the world, and Azerbaijan is the world’s leader by this indicator. In other words, they create very good economic potential. We must direct our potential, including financial resources to the development of new sectors. New industrial complexes must be created; new branches of industry must be developed. We should know in five, ten years to what sector we will direct our money earned from the strong economy, oil sector. There are a number of sectors but ICT sector is the most important among them. In terms of economic development, diversification of economy, business, at the same time, in terms of overall development of Azerbaijan. Since ICT sector has a great impact on the education. It has a great impact on the level of people’s education, knowledge.

Very good generation is growing up here. You know, a great attention is paid to the education sector in Azerbaijan. Over 600 new schools have been built for the past two years, and each of them has computer classrooms. In accordance with the program adopted, every comprehensive school will be supposed to have a computer classroom with a direct Internet connection by late 2008. Our young generation must be well-educated, open to the world, aware of the developments in the world, following them. The most advance technologies must be brought to Azerbaijan. In a word, the country’s development should be continued only in this direction. If we look at experience of the successful, developed countries, we will see that natural resources or any economic achievements are not major reasons of their progress. Only knowledge, only education, new technologies bring success, prosperity, development and modernization to the country.

In Azerbaijan, we consider the development of ICT in this context. On one hand, it is very good and promising business – the Azerbaijani state and government is providing support for development of private entrepreneurship. On the other hand, it is very important factor to strengthen economic potential and improve the education system in the country. In other words, ICT field has very broad impact upon the country. Given all this, we will see how positive impact it will have on development of our country if we are successful in this field.

I repeat, there is every opportunity to do so. First and foremost, we have our own financial resources, and we should invest them in development of ICT field. On the other hand, there is a very favorable investment climate. In this context, Azerbaijan leads the region in direct foreign investment per capita. Large-scale, transnational projects of global importance are already being implemented in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has been cooperating fruitfully with international financial bodies for many years. We are a very reliable partner, and have good business reputation. If so, it will surely be even easier for us to attract foreign investments. We already can see it. Share of ICT sector in the gross domestic product is growing. Also growing is the amount of investments made in this sector. Leading foreign companies show interest in doing business in Azerbaijan, come to Azerbaijan and express a desire to work with us. We want this too. In other words, using the existing possibilities, Azerbaijan should rank among ICT leaders in the region. Of course, governmental support for this sector is of great importance. And this support is available. I have already mentioned the problems solved and decisions made. Of course, the governmental assistance encourages those who are engaged in this sector. As the President, I attach great attention and importance to this field. I am sure that our joint efforts will rank Azerbaijan among the world’s ICT leaders. Now, the huge energy projects being implemented in Azerbaijan made it internationally known as the oil-gas country. Azerbaijan is known as a reliable partner and the country capable of implementing economically, technically and politically most difficult energy projects. I would like very much that in five or ten years, Azerbaijan to have known as one of the ITC leaders. I say again, there is every possibility to do that. I believe it is the governmental support, the adopted national ICT strategy, fruitful cooperation with foreign partners and involvement of local businessmen to this sector that will help us reach this goal.

On one hand the governmental support, on the other hand elaborate policy, realization of the national strategy, attraction of foreign investments, application of state-of the-art technologies and support of local businessmen are the factors defining our success.

Today’s exhibition and conference, increase in the number of exhibitors participating on behalf of their countries, demonstrates that Azerbaijan is gradually moving towards leading positions in this field. It pleases me very much, and I am sure that more conferences of this kind or other international events will be held in the future. I believe here in Azerbaijan, we should realize international cooperation only in the framework of such conferences.

Conferences, symposia and other event should be conducted regularly through a year for the ICT sector to develop rapidly in Azerbaijan.

Of course, this sector is very attractive for the young generation. We long the growing generation to be well educated, familiar with modern technologies and able to apply them in Azerbaijan.

In this case, Azerbaijan will be successfully developing for many years to come. In this case, in ten, twenty or thirty years, the economy of Azerbaijan will become independent on oil factor.

Here is our goal: taking these great opportunities, taking the advantage of the oil-gas factor, to create powerful economy and industrial potential, and to define the long-term development strategy of Azerbaijan. The long-term development prospects of Azerbaijan are being defined these days, these years. It depends on us how well the things will go.

I am looking with great hope into the future. I am very glad, that the work done in the ICT sector for the short period of time, the past three years, has yielded very good results. While so much has been done for the three years, even greater work will be done in the years to come.

Dear friends, I extend my greetings to all of you. I extend my greeting and gratitude to all the guests who came to Baku to participate in the exhibition and conference, and wish every success to the exhibition and conference. Thank you.