The proposal on "Capacity Building for Education in ICT in Azerbaijan" jointly developed by the Government of Azerbaijan, AIT and the International Institute of Geo-Information and Earth Observation (ITC) Netherlands was endorsed by the Azerbaijan cabinet and was officially submitted by the Government to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 20 June 2007. This was among several outcomes of the meetings and discussions during the mission of AIT President Said Irandoust and Mr. Nico Barito, Senior Fellow, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), to Baku, Azerbaijan, at the invitation of the Government from 18-21 June 2007 through the support of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Mr. Barito is also a member of AIT Center in Indonesia Steering Committee as well as the Institute-level Advisory Board.
During the trip to Azerbaijan, AIT President Irandoust and Mr. Barito met with relevant government ministries and agencies, private sector representatives, and other partners, in exploring opportunities for collaboration in training and related capacity building programs which AIT and UNITAR could partner with other stakeholders.
Highlights of some of the outcomes and the meetings and discussions were as follows:
Ministry of Communication & Information Technology (MCIT)
http://old.mincom.gov.az/new/index.aspx?lg=2:
AIT President and Mr. Barito met with H.E. Prof. Ali Abbasov, Minister; Deputy Minister; Head of Finance & Economic Analysis; Head of Legal & HR Department, discussing areas in which AIT and UNITAR could partner the Ministry in their ongoing efforts towards strengthening the country's IT infrastructure. They were also briefed on the UNDP project on "National e-governance Network Initiative" in which there could also be an important role for AIT and UNITAR.
Ministry of Transport
There was a discussion with the Chief of the Finance & Credit Department, identifying areas in which there could be possible collaboration through training and capacity building in public transportation, intelligent transportation systems, traffic planning, bio-gas based transportation etc. The Government also has a longer term plan to establish an intelligent logistic center in Baku, under the Ministry, wherein there could be an important role for AIT and UNITAR.
Ministry of Energy
Ways in which AIT could partner and assist the Ministry were discussed with the Deputy Minister to further promote and implement the renewable energy initiative which was approved by the Government in 2004.
Azerbaijan Technical University (ATU) http://www.aztu.az/:
Meeting with the Rector, Prof. Havar Mammadov and jointly agreeing to the hosting by ATU for an introductory seminar (by the end of 2007) on AIT and UNITAR to meet and interact with representatives from the private sector in identifying areas in which there could be mutually beneficial partnerships. ATU will assist in all the related logistics and arrangements with funding for the introductory seminar to be supported by UNITAR.
Ministry of Tourism
Meeting with the Chief of the Tourism Development Department, and Head of Division of the Internal & International Tourism, discussing ways in which AIT and UNITAR could assist in the tourism sector which is fast expanding, with more than 1.2 million tourists visiting the country in 2006. There is a need for Azerbaijan to upgrade its existing infrastructure and facilities as well as provide adequate training to both the public and private sector within the tourism industry.
Heydar Aliyev Foundation Foundation http://www.heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/index_e.html
The delegation from AIT and UNITAR were briefed by the Executive Director of the Foundation on the activities of the Foundation which supports projects and promotes initiatives in science, education, culture, health, sports, ecology etc. . The Foundation is also planning to set up a university in Baku. The delegation from AIT and UNITAR presented to the Executive Director the capacities of AIT and UNITAR, and expressed their interest to partner the Foundation through projects in which there could be mutual collaboration and synergies.
Mr. Nico also delivered a keynote address at the Infocom workshop hosted by Nakhcivan State University in the southern province of Nakhcivan and a proposed program on Global Partnership on Infocom has been signed between UNITAR and MCIT (Department of Strategic Planning and Scientific Potential) at Nakhchivan. He also discussed economic development prospects and capacity building partnerships with the Director of Foreign Investment and Coordination of Technical Assistance at Ministry of Economic Development, in addition to meetings with the Minister of Culture and Tourism; President of Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion; and the First Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Azerbaijan.
If there is a declaration of common interest on the part of the ministries AIT also discussed the possibility of UNITAR taking the lead role in mobilizing funding under the UN platform from the Azerbaijan Government, other governments, foreign private sector investing in Azerbaijan (as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility strategies) for the conduct of relevant training and capacity building programs.