Azerbaijan aims to boost information and communications technology exports at least 10-fold to $1 bln

BAKU. Feb 12 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan aims to boost information and communications technology (ICT) exports at least 10-fold to $1 billion, Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev said.

"In 2022, a legislative provision granting special status to companies operating in the IT sector was adopted. As a result, the number of companies residing in technology parks reached approximately 165. Of these, 10 are foreign companies, and their revenues amount to approximately 1 billion manat. However, we believe this does not reflect our country's potential. Our key indicator is exports. Unfortunately, they currently stand at approximately $100 million. We believe that if the measures envisaged in the Action Plan are implemented, we can increase this figure to $1 billion and even higher,"Nabiyev said at a meeting chaired by President Ilham Aliyev on the unified action plan "Azerbaijan's New Digital Architecture."

Nabiyev said Azerbaijan's ICT sector grew around 8.5% in 2025.

Taking into account global practices, the current state of our country, and emerging challenges, an initial action plan has been prepared to advance our technological development, he said.

"The plan is built on four pillars: the acceleration of digitalization and digital transformation; artificial intelligence and the broad application of AI solutions in state institutions as well as private companies; establishing an innovation ecosystem; and cybersecurity - after establishing a virtual environment, addressing cybersecurity becomes the primary challenge," Nabiyev said.