President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on measures to improve activities in the fields of digitalization, electronic government, artificial intelligence, and innovation in Azerbaijan, establishing the Digital Development Council.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that according to the decree, First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Council. The new body is tasked with regulating the strategic direction of the country's technological advancement and coordinating digital initiatives across various government sectors.
The Council's membership includes high-ranking officials such as the Assistants to the President for economic affairs, innovative development, and industrial policy, as well as the ministers of digital development and transport, science and education, justice, finance, and economy. The Governor of the Central Bank and the Executive Director of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) are also members. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport will serve as the Council's Secretariat, and the body is authorized to engage international experts and establish specialized working groups to achieve its objectives.
This initiative aligns with Azerbaijan's long-term strategy to diversify its economy through the "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development" framework. By centralizing the management of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure under the leadership of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, the government aims to accelerate the transition to a knowledge-based economy and enhance the efficiency of public services through advanced electronic government solutions. The Council will provide annual reports on its progress directly to President Ilham Aliyev.
