BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.17
By Sadraddin Aghjayev – Trend:
Serious competition is proceeding in the ICT product market, especially between the US and Chinese companies dominating in research and production of innovative products and technologies, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Elmir Valizade said, Trend reports.
Valizade made the remark during the ‘Innovation Week’ online event within the framework of the ‘Made in Azerbaijan: Innovations and Technologies’ project
According to him, a new strategy of innovational development is being elaborated in the country.
"Access to markets is becoming more difficult every year. For this reason, increasing the share of competitive goods and services in the development of the national economy is one of the priorities of the economic policy of our country," he noted. "Products of the ‘Made in Azerbaijan’ brand are already presented on world markets. Our goal is to include high-tech innovative products in this brand. In our country, consistent steps are being taken in this direction."
The deputy minister also pointed out that in accordance with the signed decrees and orders of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev within the framework of the ‘Made in Azerbaijan’ project, the ministry is working to stimulate the export of local products to foreign markets, especially the export of non-oil products.
"Work is underway to create and develop new products and production technologies by local companies. Our state encourages the creation and development of new products and production technologies, supports the certification and patenting of local companies abroad, encourages the promotion of non-oil products under the brand name ‘Made in Azerbaijan’ and their participation in international exhibitions and fairs using the stand, supports a number of similar activities," said Valizade. "Tax and customs privileges are also applied in the export of local products under the brand ‘Made in Azerbaijan’. All of this increases the competitiveness of our country."
As he noted, when reviewing the list of innovatively developed countries of the world, it can be seen that the share of high-tech products in the exports of these countries is very high.
"Therefore, our main goal is to create an innovative system that turns ideas into products and services and brings them to all markets. To achieve the goal, comprehensive and consistent steps are being taken, industrial and technological parks, funds created, concessions and incentives applied," he said. "Strategic roadmaps, various programs are being developed, institutional reforms are being carried out, and the development of an innovation ecosystem is supported. Besides, various events, for example, ‘Festival of Innovations’ and ‘Idea-to-Business’ are being held."
"Our country has already formed a legal basis for financing scientific research and the introduction of innovations from a certain part of the annual profit of public legal entities and legal entities in state ownership," added the official.
The creation of Innovation Agency under the Ministry of Communications to support innovative development and the startup ecosystem is a part of institutional reform.
The Ministry of Communications is ready to consider regulatory legal acts (RLAs) on the provision of grants, loans, and investments, after the approval of which, accordingly, there will be growth in the ecosystem as a whole, and Azerbaijani startup projects will be able to enter the international market. Concessions to start-ups will be provided after the adoption of the RLAs on the issuance of a ‘Startup certificate’. Startups that receive this certificate will be exempt from tax for 3 years, which will positively impact the startups’ performance.
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