A New Stage of Digital Development: Systemic Reforms under the Leadership of Mehriban Aliyeva

Digital transformation has become one of the defining criteria of national development in the twenty-first century. Today, global competitiveness is determined not only by natural resources or traditional economic indicators, but increasingly by digital technologies, artificial intelligence, innovation, data governance, and cybersecurity. From this perspective, the decisions adopted by President Ilham Aliyev at the strategic meeting held in February this year have laid the foundation for a new and qualitatively higher stage in Azerbaijan’s development. The establishment of the Digital Development Council and the approval of the "2026–2028 Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan" demonstrate that the country is building its digital future on a systematic, long-term strategy grounded in national interests.

In this process, the appointment of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva as Chair of the Digital Development Council carries particular significance. Digital transformation extends far beyond the responsibilities of a single ministry or individual government institutions. It is a comprehensive reform encompassing public administration, the economy, education, healthcare, social services, and virtually every sphere of public life. Coordinating such an extensive transformation from a single strategic center, ensuring effective cooperation among state institutions, and facilitating the prompt implementation of strategic decisions require leadership at the highest political level. In this regard, entrusting the Council to the First Vice-President is both a logical and forward-looking decision. It once again confirms that the Head of State considers digital development one of the key priorities shaping Azerbaijan’s future model of development.

The progress achieved within a short period clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach. The rapid expansion of the "mygov" platform, the integration of electronic services provided by various government institutions into a unified digital ecosystem, the reduction of direct interaction between citizens and public officials, the introduction of proactive public services, and the implementation of the "Only Once" principle mark the beginning of a fundamentally new stage in public administration. It is therefore no coincidence that the number of **mygov** users increased from 2.7 million to 3.5 million in just three months, reflecting both citizens' confidence in these digital services and the growing demand for them.

One of the Action Plan's greatest strengths lies in its understanding of digitalization not merely as technological modernization but as a new philosophy of governance. The creation of a unified national data infrastructure, standardized data management, and the application of analytics and artificial intelligence to anticipate citizens' needs and provide personalized public services already represent governance models successfully implemented in the world's leading countries. Azerbaijan's determined progress in this direction demonstrates its successful integration into the global process of digital transformation.

The development of an innovation-driven economy represents another key pillar of the Action Plan. In essence, the proposed legislative package constitutes one of the most comprehensive legal reforms in the history of Azerbaijan’s technological development. The planned amendments to more than thirty laws, presidential decrees, and Cabinet of Ministers' resolutions reflect the state's strategic commitment to this sector. The introduction of internationally recognized investment instruments—including venture capital financing, the business angel institution, crowdfunding mechanisms, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), SAFE agreements, and Convertible Notes—will align Azerbaijan's innovation ecosystem with global standards. Long-term tax incentives for technology companies, support measures for highly qualified professionals, and the introduction of the "Digital Nomad Visa" are expected to play a significant role in positioning Azerbaijan as a regional hub for technology and innovation.

The priorities identified in the field of artificial intelligence also deserve particular attention. The introduction of AI-powered solutions into public services, the launch of a virtual assistant on the "mygov" platform, the establishment of a national computing infrastructure, the development of GPU-based technological capabilities, and the implementation of a "Regulatory Sandbox" framework demonstrate that Azerbaijan has no intention of remaining merely a consumer of artificial intelligence technologies. The country's objective is to build its own national AI capabilities, develop innovative products, and advance to a new stage in the development of its digital economy.

The reforms undertaken in the field of cybersecurity—an indispensable component of digital development—also reflect the state's strategic vision. The establishment of the National Cybersecurity Agency, the creation of the National CERT and Security Operations Centers (SOC), the introduction of new legal mechanisms for protecting critical information infrastructure, and the development of AI-powered cyber defense systems are all aimed at strengthening Azerbaijan's digital sovereignty. After all, digital transformation can evolve into a sustainable development model only when supported by a robust and reliable cybersecurity framework.

Digital transformation in education represents one of the most important long-term investments in the nation's human capital. Providing schools with secure internet access, distributing hundreds of thousands of computers over recent years, expanding the "Digital School" platform, increasing the availability of electronic education services, and successfully implementing the "Digital Skills" and "STEAM Azerbaijan" initiatives demonstrate that the objective extends far beyond equipping schools with modern technologies. The ultimate goal is to cultivate a new generation equipped with digital competencies and a digital mindset.

All of these developments clearly demonstrate that the "2026–2028 Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan" is not merely a collection of individual projects. Rather, it constitutes a comprehensive national development strategy encompassing public administration, the economy, education, innovation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The coordination of this strategy at the highest political level, together with the launch of the Digital Development Council under the leadership of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, represents an important institutional decision that will ensure the systematic, efficient, and results-oriented implementation of these reforms.

There is every reason to believe that the steps being taken today are designed not only to address the needs of the present but also to shape Azerbaijan's long-term future. They lay the foundation for a strategic development course that will further strengthen the country's position in the decades ahead as a nation with a competitive economy, modern public administration, and a strong digital society.

Elnara Akimova,

Member of the Milli Majlis,
Member of the Board of the New Azerbaijan Party,
Doctor of Philological Sciences