Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 16 / Trend H.Valiyev /
The Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry is considering cooperation with GUAM member countries on the construction of the East-West super information highway, Scientific Capacity and Strategic Planning Department head Isfandiyar Aliyev told Trend today.
The issue will be addressed within the next GUAM IT working group meeting in Kiev on Dec. 16-17.
Aliyev said the Azerbaijani side will inform the meeting about the U.N. General Assembly's resolution on "Building connectivity through the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway." Following this, a number of countries have expressed great interest in this project and expressed willingness to provide financial support in this regard.
Based on the resolution, all regional countries have been given recommendations on how to implement the project. The organization expressed support for the project, which aims to reduce poverty and increase economic growth. The project will serve as an engine for regional development.
East-West is intended to connect a total of 20 countries. The project will eliminate the information gap existing between countries in Western European and the Pacific basin.
The working group meeting which will be chaired by the Azerbaijani side will bring together representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of the GUAM member states.
"Today, the possibilities of cooperation within the East-West project have already been discussed with the Georgian side, on which there is a certain agreement," Aliyev said. "In general, the Kiev meeting aims to identify those areas, in which future cooperation is possible. We intend to reach a consensus on the prospects cooperation in the field of information society development, that is, cooperation on infrastructure projects, ICT, Internet, e-government, etc. The results of the meeting will be certified by the protocol."