10 t h ANNIVERSARY 221x130 mm CLOUD SOLUTIONS AS A NEW BUSINESS MODEL Special Interview with the Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, Mr. Ramin Guluzade From Ground to Cloud Security Over Movable Property – New Perspectives for Borrowers and Creditors 27 A Word From Executive Director of AmCham Dear AmCham members and friends, Digitalization of diverse processes and deliverables are inevitable part in modern day business management and Issue 27 survival of enterprises. Thanks to this process, companies can widen their market. However, it is not single sided. The wave of digitations brings both fruits and challenges. Herein, Credits the key issue is to utilize opportunities for further development or implementation of new ideas. Over the last years, the government of Azerbaijan made solid AmCham Executive Director: and strategic steps forward in development of economy, with Natavan Mammadova an emphasis to widening digitalization. It is possible to observe such commitment on the basis of Strategic Road Maps for the National Economy and Main Economic Editor: Sectors of Azerbaijan, as well as vision of the Ministry of Transport, Communications Aykhan Nasibli and High Technologies. Currently, monitoring & evaluation of strategic roadmaps shows commitment to the principles of open government, which leads to further Articles contributed by: transparency, accountability and efficiency in fulfillment of the targets. As the leading business association, AmCham members are highly committed to Agateyyub Jafarov embrace, share case studies and successful results, as well as be a role model in Nurlana Ahmadova the market. We see that digitalization drives sustainable development and it realizes Rena Abutalibova the true definition of globalization. During the bi-annual White Papers, which is Kamil Valiyev developed by AmCham members, relevant recommendations and upcoming steps Meltem Novruzova are reflected and shared with the government offices. Nazrin Baghirova Herein, I wish you the best and success in your businesses. Fariz Ismailzade Best regards, Advertisers: Natavan Mammadova Azintelecom PASHA Bank Azerfon Mozaik Editor’s Comment Turkish Airlines Dear friends, BP th Coca Cola Welcome to 27 edition of IMPACT Azerbaijan magazine, de- voted to Digital Architecture of Businesses. Deloitte This issue is very special for our team. We are celebrating our Ekvita 10th anniversary! During the past years, the magazine grew ITECA in size, in scope and captured attention of diverse stakehold- ers, including private sector, public sector and wide range Publisher: of third sector representatives. Within 27 editions, diverse American Chamber of Commerce subjects have been covered, which were highly important for in Azerbaijan development of the country: from tourism to banking, as well as from labor market to education. This issue covers one of the important subjects for businesses – digitalization. As Tel: (+994 12) 497 13 33 Minister Ramin Guluzade indicated in his interview, “ICT has penetrated into all ar- Fax: (+994 12) 497 10 91 eas of our modern life”. In this context, the government of Azerbaijan has introduced www.amchamaz.org wide range of digital and e-platforms to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of public services, stimulating the development of private sector. Even more, strategic Advertising opportunities: road maps highlight importance of digitalization in diverse areas for further develop- ment of the economy. Regarding to the cornerstone of economy – the private sector, Please contact the Editor at digitalization created a positive spillover effect not only for company management, [email protected] but also to provision of relevant goods and services. As a result, digitalization in Azerbaijan has dramatically changed the nature of demand and supply in the last The articles in IMPACT Azerbaijan few decades. express the opinions of the authors Herein, it is my pleasure to appreciate for contribution of interviewed officials, au- and do not necessarily reflect the thor of articles, as well as advertisement providers, including Azerfon, Azintelecom, Coca Cola, Mozaik Printing, Turkish Airlines, BP, Deloitte, PASHA Bank and Ekvita. position of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan I am sure you will enjoy reading our content. Best wishes, Aykhan Nasibli contents IN FOCUS MEMBER CONTRIBUTION 4 20 Special Interview with the Minister of Security Over Movable Property – Transport, Communications and High New Perspectives for Borrowers Technologies, Mr. Ramin Guluzade and Creditors Kamil Valiyev MGB Law Offices 7 Meltem Novruzova A Wonderful Journey That We MGB Law Offices Are Proud Of DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION Nuran Kerimov Deloitte Azerbaijan 22 Promoting Dialogue Between Public and Private Sectors for Educational 9 Development and Economic Growth in Transition to digital banking is a Azerbaijan key target of PASHA Bank for the Nazrin Baghirova forthcoming years US Educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association Fariz Ismailzade Taleh Kazimov ADA University PASHA Bank 12 AMCHAM AZERBAIJAN Azerbaijani IT Companies are 26 Providing Borderless Services Under About Us “Made in Azerbaijan” Brand Ismayil Alakbarov Neuron Technologies 27 Business Events 16 From Ground to Cloud 28 Agateyyub Jafarov Committee Highlights Seabak Nurlana Ahmadova Seabak 31 AmCham Legal Update 18 Digitalization and Exhibitions are Different Sides of the Same Coin 36 Social Events 38 Member News & Events Rena Abutalibova ITECA Caspian 40 M2M Discount Program 2 Issue 27 in focus Special Interview with the Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, Mr. Ramin Guluzade and electronic signature tokens have been created. To date, over 100,000 electronic signatures have been issued and new generation ID card to be given to each citizen in the nearest future will be provided with an electronic signature certificate. Thus, new ID cards will be used for identifying identity, as well as, signing electronic documents. In order to expand non-cash payments, E-government pay- ment system E-gov Pay has been created by us and made available to the population. Regional Data Center was commissioned in December last year. How would you characterize this project? The launch of the Data Center is a very important event both for the country and the region. This means establishment of a centralized IT resource function in Azerbaijan. The project allows government agencies and businesses to reduce their capital costs, minimize overall IT costs by reducing operating costs to zero, as well as export IT services. Data Center is the first such a center in the South Caucasus region with TIER III, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 certification. What strategy are you implementing for wider applica- Data Center is operated by Azintelecom, which is under the tion of ICT? Ministry structure. Information communication technologies (ICT) has pene- Infrastructure-based services of the data centers that are trated into all areas of our modern life. This is a tendency of created on cloud technologies provide protection from cyber development in the world. Azerbaijan is also an active partici- attacks. The Regional Data Center and its cloud-based infra- pant of this process. ICT field is always in the spotlight of the structure services are of great importance to attracting foreign head of state. currency to the country on its favorable terms and transform- We try to apply technologies that meet up-to-date require- ing Azerbaijan into an IT Center of the region. ments in all areas. We are implementing a telecommunication infrastructure upgrade project throughout the country. These projects are based on the latest generation technologies to provide high-quality services to the population. Today ICT is successfully applied in any area. The implemen- tation of effective projects are underway in our country in the field of e-education, e-tax, e-health, e-agriculture, e-customs, e-commerce and other directions. What work has been done within the direction of further- ing E-government? All the services I have just mentioned are reflected in “Elec- tronic Government” model. The services of more than 40 government agencies are pro- vided to citizens on the portal E-government. Through the mobile application of the portal, users are sent notifications Your Ministry gives special support to start up projects. for communication, utilities, penalties and so on in real-time In your opinion, what should be done to ensure that mode. This can be considered a successful start for building these projects succeed internationally? a “mobile government”. Constant attention and support is provided to innovative The use of e-signatures have been improved this year against ideas, intellectual entrepreneurship and startups in our coun- the background of increasing demand for electronic services 4 Issue 27 in focus try. As a result, in recent years the startup ecosystem of Azer- Next BakuTel exhibition-conference is approaching. How baijan has grown and now we have projects that can enter the do such traditional events affect the development of the global market. As a strategic goal, as a result of transforming sector? ideas into IT business growth of new products and services, Azerbaijan International Exhibition and Conference on Tele- development of this field has been identified. Innovative busi- communications and Information Technologies BakuTel, ness incubators have been created in many leading universi- which is the most important event of the region in the field of ties of the country