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On 11 February 2026, at a meeting chaired by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, key decisions were adopted to shape the country’s digital future. By Presidential Decree, the Digital Development Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established to define priorities in digitalization, e-government, artificial intelligence, and innovation, as well as to strengthen national technological capacity and digital sovereignty. The establishment of the Council will ensure a unified and coordinated implementation of state policy in this field and accelerate the transition to an innovation-driven economic model.

In line with the priorities identified during the meeting, the “Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2026–2028” was also approved. This strategic document encompasses comprehensive measures and strategic objectives that will transform the country’s technological landscape over the next three years. Key targets include optimizing public administration, improving Azerbaijan’s position in international rankings, and increasing the share of the digital sector in GDP.

To enhance efficiency in governance and ensure the achievement of strategic goals, a clear institutional accountability framework has been established under the Action Plan. Accordingly, each state authority (institution) will appoint, at the level of deputy head, a senior official directly responsible for digitalization, innovation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. In addition, the introduction of a centralized approval mechanism for digital development expenditures of state bodies aims to improve the efficiency of public investments and ensure full compliance of digital projects with a unified architecture.

One of the key innovations in digital development is the elimination of fragmentation in the delivery of public services and the transition to a centralized system. All digital public services, including official documents, will be provided to citizens and entrepreneurs exclusively through the “mygov” and “mygov Biznes” platforms. Separate portals and mobile applications of individual institutions will be discontinued and integrated into a unified ecosystem, thereby enhancing service quality.

Beyond the digitalization of existing services, the Plan also envisions a shift to a proactive service model. Under this approach, certain services will be delivered automatically—without additional applications from citizens—based on system integration and data exchange. The implementation of the “once-only” principle will minimize repetitive document requests and eliminate bureaucratic barriers. At the same time, the creation of a “state data lake” and the integration of various information resources into this system will ensure the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of data.

Another important direction is strengthening the financial sustainability of the innovation ecosystem and increasing ICT exports. In this regard, the Plan provides for the development of a legal framework for venture financing, crowdfunding, and the “angel investor” institution, as well as the establishment of a “Fund of Funds” with the participation of local and international venture capital funds. Support for locally developed innovative products in public procurement and the availability of open data to businesses and startups through APIs are also envisaged. The introduction of “digital nomad” and “digital talent” visas to attract global talent, along with tax incentives for freelancers, will reinforce Azerbaijan’s position as a regional technology hub.

The integration of modern technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—into public administration and social life is also among the core priorities. Measures include the establishment of high-performance computing infrastructure and the enhancement of public services through AI-based solutions. The deployment of virtual assistants providing 24/7 services to citizens will be expanded, and a legal framework will be developed to enable the nationwide implementation of AI solutions successfully tested within the “Regulatory Sandbox.” Successful models will be fully integrated into public services.

To ensure cybersecurity in the digital environment, the national cybersecurity ecosystem will also be strengthened. Plans include the establishment of specialized centers for National Security Operations, National Cyber Incident Response, and digital investigations to coordinate resilient defense against cyberattacks, as well as the investigation and mitigation of their consequences. The integration of all public services into the Electronic Government Information System and the completion of the transition of state information resources and systems to the “Government Cloud” will enhance information security, including cybersecurity. This approach reflects a new phase of comprehensive digital transformation in Azerbaijan’s public administration and economic model.

It should be noted that the Action Plan has been aligned with the Information Security and Cybersecurity Strategy, the Digital Development Concept, and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy, consolidating concrete measures to ensure the implementation of the objectives set forth in these documents. Thus, strategic vision, priorities, and implementation mechanisms are integrated within a unified governance framework.