News

On April 17–18, the latest session of the “digital.leadership” program—an initiative of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA)—was held, bringing together over 80 representatives from 57 government institutions. The central focus of the two-day event was the “Digital Development Concept of Azerbaijan.” The session featured an in-depth analysis of the strategic priorities outlined in the Concept, panel discussions reflecting feedback from government agencies, and collaborative dialogue on strengthening inter-institutional cooperation through a joint action plan.

On the opening day, IRIA Chairman Farid Osmanov welcomed participants with an address, emphasizing the importance of this particular session, held within the context of the Digital Development Concept:

“The digital.leadership program has become an effective cooperation platform for the exchange of ideas among public institutions. In this session, we will discuss the digital development priorities outlined in the Concept and examine mechanisms that ensure sustainable digital development for citizens, businesses, and the state—from the perspective of various institutions.”

Deputy Chairman of IDDA Shahin Aliyev followed with remarks highlighting the program’s contribution to inter-agency collaboration. He noted that such collaboration has significantly enhanced the quality of digital government services in Azerbaijan. Important legislative proposals in the fields of information security and artificial intelligence have been developed, and this cooperation has positively impacted Azerbaijan’s standing in international rankings. Specifically, in the most recent United Nations E-Government Development Index, Azerbaijan was listed alongside developed countries, reflecting notable progress in national digitalization efforts. Aliyev added that further strengthening inter-agency collaboration will be a key factor in achieving even higher rankings in future reports.

In his presentation, IDDA Deputy Chairman Rashad Khaligov provided detailed insights into Azerbaijan’s digital government products, including mygov, digital.bridge, digital.login, the Open Data Portal, Digital Document Circulation, and the E-Participation Portal. He noted that in 2024, three life events have been activated on mygov, with development underway on eight additional events. These solutions ensure seamless interaction between citizens and the state and provide personalized services in a secure environment.

The session continued with thematic panel discussions. The panel “Digitalization in the Social Sphere: Priorities and Challenges,” moderated by President of the Azerbaijan Internet Forum Osman Gunduz, explored the impact of digital transformation on citizens’ lives, along with the opportunities and challenges arising from emerging technologies. Another panel, “GovTech Approach and the Organization of Digital Services Based on Sandboxes,” moderated by Orkhan Ismayilov, Head of IRIA’s Strategic Partnership and International Cooperation Department, focused on the integration of startup-driven innovations into government technology infrastructure.

On the second day of the program, representatives of various government bodies delivered presentations on topics such as the use of technological tools for data-driven decision-making, an interactive map of Azerbaijanis worldwide, a central portal for diaspora organizations, and the role of digitalization in economic development. Participants were also briefed on relevant digital projects and institutional approaches implemented within their respective agencies.

It should be noted that the digital.leadership program is designed to accelerate the transition to digital government, enhance global competitiveness in the fields of digital government and innovation, and coordinate efforts among public institutions in the development and promotion of digital government services. The program also aims to establish unified coordination in the formation, integration, and effective management of state information resources and systems.