The progress in Information and communication technology

About 500 new private institutions in IT sector were established as a result of the works carried out for the development of Information and communication technology (IT) in Azerbaijan. During 2010 incomes of IT, post and information sectors in comparison with the previous year reached 1 milliard 23,200,000 manats increasing up to 32.1 per cent. 

Compared with 2009, growth rate reached 35.5. % in IT sector, 32.8% in telecommunication sector and 29.2 % in post sector. About 80 per cent of the income received from IT and post sector fell on the non-state telecommunication agencies.

In addition, in 2010 the use of up-to-date technology is rather expanded, information-oriented society kept developing and internet liberalizing, the quality of TV and radio broadcasting enhanced, the number of mobile phone and computer users increased and international relations broadened in our country, legislation base improved. Azerbaijan keeps demonstrating the significance attached to the development of IT sector by hosting a number of important events in this field. 

The purposeful steps taken for computerization of schools, ensuring the access to a virtual world for the youth and their mastering the skills for working with information technology, serves the aim. From this point of view the Decree “on ratification of the Program (for 2005-2007) for provision of comprehensive secondary schools in the Azerbaijan Republic with information and communication technology” dated August 21, 2004 prepared a scientific and technical ground for the youth to acquire state-of-the-art knowledge and get a deep insight into information technology. 

Besides, “State program on the informatization of the educational system in the Azerbaijan Republic during 2008-2012” ratified on June 10, 2008 served the purpose of formation of single national educational environment and provision of all the sectors of society with the possibilities for getting qualitative education.

The “State program on the development of information and telecommunication technology in the Azerbaijan Republic for 2005-2008 (Electron Azerbaijan)” ratified by the Decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev, dated October 22, 2005 proved to be a perfect activity strategy enabling a wide application of information and telecommunication technology, as well as ensuring a wide dissemination in the regions. According to the Program Azerbaijan hit international average rate in the development of information technologies and 150 million USD was allocated for the development of this sector. 

The Order of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev on the ratification of the “State program on the development of information and telecommunication technology in the Azerbaijan Republic for 2010-2012 (Electron Azerbaijan)” dated August 11, 2008 shows that state policy carried out in this field entered into a new quality stage. The Decree aims at ensuring the implementation of The “National Strategy for information and telecommunication technology for the development of the Azerbaijan Republic (for 2003-2012)” ratified by the Order of a great leader Heydar Aliyev, dated February 17, 2003. The Order ratifies the “State program on the development of information and telecommunication technology in the Azerbaijan Republic for 2010-2012 (Electron Azerbaijan)”.