The first “StrategEast: Eurasia Forum on Government and IT” has been held in Baku
The 7th “StrategEast: Eurasia Forum on Government and IT” was held in Baku on November 4–5, 2025, co-organized by the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the StrategEast organization.
This marked the first time the forum was hosted in Azerbaijan, bringing together around 200 experts and technology leaders from the United States, the European Union, the Gulf region, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
This year’s event was dedicated to the theme “A World Transformed by Artificial Intelligence.” During the forum, experts discussed the impact of AI on the global economy—particularly its influence on the economies of Central Eurasian countries—along with opportunities, challenges, and ethical aspects of responsible AI use.
In his opening remarks, Salar Imamaliyev, Chief Commercial Officer of IDDA, emphasized that the adoption of the National AI Strategy of Azerbaijan this year marked an important conceptual step forward:
“Artificial intelligence brings both new opportunities and challenges. The state-approved strategy aims to harness the power of this technology to modernize public administration, enhance national economic competitiveness, and foster the growth of human capital, the startup ecosystem, and the overall innovation-driven business environment.”
Anatoly Motkin, President of StrategEast, highlighted Azerbaijan’s key role in the digital ecosystem of Central Eurasia:
“Azerbaijan’s successful digital policies and effective regional partnerships prove that the country is becoming a leading hub in the Central Eurasian ecosystem. Hosting this forum in Baku creates an important platform to further strengthen these partnerships.”
On the second day, Kamran Aghayev, Head of the Data Management Department at IDDA, spoke at a panel titled “Inclusive Digitalization in Central Eurasia: The Role of Big Tech in Digital Sovereignty.”
The event gathered representatives from major global technology companies such as Google, EPAM, Xsolla, Coursera, and Sigma Software, as well as experts from the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
A special “Startups Meet Investors” session was also held, facilitating direct networking between startups and venture or corporate investors.
Notably, previous editions of the StrategEast Eurasia Forum on Government and IT were held in Kyiv, Tbilisi, Bishkek, Samarkand, Almaty, and Chișinău. The forum’s outcomes traditionally include expert recommendations on technological policy and decision-making, shared with both public and private sector stakeholders and investors.
