Azerbaijan Showcases Its Digital Vision

The Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan took part in the 7th StrategEast State and IT Eurasian Forum, held on November 4–5, 2025, in Baku. The event, organised in partnership with StrategEast, brought together more than 200 high-level participants from the United States, the European Union, the Gulf, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.

This year’s forum, titled “Shaping the World with AI,” explored the transformative power of artificial intelligence across all sectors of modern life — from public administration and the economy to education, security, and creative industries. The discussions underscored how digital innovation and the responsible use of AI are redefining societies, industries, and human capital across Eurasia.

Speaking at the opening session, Mr Salar Imamaliyev, Chief Commercial Officer of IDDA, emphasised that Azerbaijan’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy, adopted earlier this year, defines the nation’s vision for sustainable digital transformation: “Artificial intelligence creates new opportunities and challenges. Our strategy aims to harness this technology to modernise public administration, enhance economic competitiveness, and develop a robust innovation-driven ecosystem.”

Throughout the forum, IDDA representatives took part in several key sessions, including discussions on digital sovereignty, inclusive digitalisation, and the development of a single digital market linking the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. The Agency’s experts shared Azerbaijan’s experience in promoting responsible AI use, advancing cybersecurity standards, and fostering collaboration between startups and large technology companies.

The wide scope of participants in Baku — from leading global technology companies such as Google, EPAM, Coursera, Xsolla, and Sigma Software to international organisations like the World Bank and EBRD — reflected the shared understanding that digital development and innovation today underpin every aspect of modern life: from national security and infrastructure resilience to educational modernization and the rise of creative industries.

Anatoly Motkin, President of StrategEast, commended Azerbaijan’s leadership in digital policy: “Azerbaijan’s successful digital strategy and strong regional partnerships position it as a key hub in the Central Eurasian ecosystem. Hosting this year’s forum in Baku provides an excellent platform for expanding cooperation and innovation across the region.”

The event concluded with a ‘Startups Meet Investors’ session, enabling direct engagement between Eurasian startups and venture investors from the Gulf, the U.S., and Europe. Recommendations emerging from the forum will be shared with governments, international organisations, and private-sector partners to support the development of advanced digital economies in the region.

• Resources:
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• StrategEast Forum Official Website – https://forum.strategeast.org/
• Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) – https://idda.az/en
• Report.az coverage – https://report.az/en/ict/baku-hosts-strategeast-state-and-it-eurasian-forum-2025
• APA News – https://en.apa.az/ict/azerbaijan-conducts-international-ai-market-analysis-develops-advanced-chatbots-482731
• Caliber.az – https://caliber.az/en/post/world-bank-official-men-lead-women-in-internet-use-digital-literacy
• Tech.az – https://tech.az/en/posts/a-supercomputer-center-will-be-established-in-azerbaijan-6007
• World Bank Digital Development - https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopment
• EPAM Systems – https://www.epam.com
• Coursera – https://www.coursera.org.