DCO Secretary-General outlines organization's plans for cooperation with Azerbaijan

Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) Secretary-General Deemah Al Yahya plans to study Azerbaijan's digital ecosystem and hold meetings with government officials, private sector representatives, academics and young people during her visit to the country.

In an interview with Report, Al Yahya said the visit is primarily aimed at reaffirming the DCO's commitment to and support for the Azerbaijani government following the country's decision to join the organization.

"We have come to demonstrate our support and our readiness to assist the Azerbaijani government," she said.

According to the DCO secretary-general, the organization intends to gain a deeper understanding of Azerbaijan's digital ecosystem, including the vision, goals and ambitions of government institutions in the digital economy.

The delegation also plans to meet representatives of the private sector, including telecommunications companies, startups and technology firms. Al Yahya said engagement with the academic community, students and talented young people in Azerbaijan is also important.

She said the DCO delegation will visit the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), meet with relevant funds and explore opportunities to expand Azerbaijan's cooperation with other DCO member states.

Asked about specific projects the organization plans to implement in Azerbaijan, Al Yahya said effective partnerships begin with understanding a country's needs.

She noted that Azerbaijan already has significant advantages in cooperation with the DCO, particularly in areas such as e-government, digital identification and e-procurement.

"Take, for instance, Azerbaijan's mygov platform, which is already used by 4 million people. That scale of adoption demonstrates both the progress Azerbaijan has made and the willingness of its citizens to embrace digital public services," Al Yahya said.

She also highlighted Azerbaijan's strong foundations in digital inclusion, healthcare and education, as well as its growing digital business and innovation ecosystem.

According to Al Yahya, after assessing the country's needs, the DCO will be able to align its opportunities and initiatives with Azerbaijan's national priorities and connect the country with relevant states, companies and institutions to help implement those priorities.

The full text of the interview is available here.