On June 29, the first meeting of the Digital Development Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held under the chairmanship of First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva delivered a speech at the meeting.

Speech by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva

-Dear colleagues.

Today, we are holding the first meeting of the Digital Development Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In February of this year, a meeting dedicated to the new digital development strategy of our country was held under the chairmanship of President Ilham Aliyev, and based on the instructions given, the Action Plan for digital development was approved. A specific Roadmap has been determined for the next three years, ensuring the development of digitalization, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the innovation ecosystem. The main task of the Council is to coordinate the activities of various state bodies, form a unified approach and ensure the timely and effective implementation of the decisions made. Our goal is not only to introduce new technologies, but also to give a strong impetus to the country's economy, form a new modern innovation ecosystem, attract local and foreign investments to the country, support local startups, and create a more efficient public administration system.

Artificial intelligence is no longer the main development factor of the future, but of today. At the same time, the role of artificial intelligence in ensuring the security of states is increasing and already occupies a central place. It is no secret that the development of artificial intelligence in the world's leading countries is proceeding faster than expected forecasts, and this, in turn, creates both new opportunities and new threats. We must be ready for new challenges, especially existing and emerging risks in the field of cybersecurity and information security.

Our activities require the joint active and effective work of all state agencies. Our goal is to turn Azerbaijan into one of the leading countries in the region in the fields of digital development and artificial intelligence. We must learn from foreign, international experience and use successful models. However, all decisions must be made based on factors that meet the national interests and needs of Azerbaijan.