The Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), jointly with the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), held the Second International Conference of the Digital Trade Hub and the Opening Ceremony of the Electronic and Mobile Residency Program. At the conference, for the first time in world history, a mobile signature known as ASAN Imza was issued to a non resident. At the same time, Azerbaijan became the second country after Estonia to offer e residency to foreigners.

The conference discussed the digitalization of trade, the impact of cross border exchange of e services among participating countries, and other pressing issues related to innovative development.

Opening the conference with a keynote speech, the Executive Director of CAERC, Vusal Gasimli, stated that the future of the global economy is shaped by factors such as the penetration of technology into human life, the evolution of money, the distribution of wealth, the activation of new economic growth engines, the green economy, the geography of human distribution, and the trade paradox. He emphasized that, taking global trends into account, Azerbaijan must build a competitive economy in line with the spirit of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He noted that the launch of the worlds second Digital Trade Hub, the first mobile residency, and the second electronic residency in Azerbaijan are concrete contributions of the country to innovative development.

ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz bin Othman Al Tuwaijri then delivered a speech. Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding signed with CAERC on recognizing Azerbaijans position as a Digital Trade Hub, he stated that Azerbaijan is a space that connects East and West in many aspects, including from a technological perspective.

Speeches were also delivered at the conference by the Vice Speaker of the Estonian Parliament Kalle Laanet, the Head of the EDAM think tank of Turkiye Ussal Sahbaz, the Director of the E Government Development Center Fariz Jafarov, Advisor to the CEO of Gazinformservice LLC Sergey Kiryushkin, the CEO of Bridgizz Ahmed Larouz, and others.

Afterwards, the ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz bin Othman Al Tuwaijri was presented with mobile residency based on the network of Azerbaijans first mobile operator Bakcell, along with national attire. The Head of the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan, Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas, was also presented for the first time with electronic residency and national attire. The Manager of Azerbaijans Digital Trade Hub, Nijat Asadli, informed participants via a video presentation about the core concept, advantages, and opportunities of electronic and mobile residency.

It should be noted that electronic signature certificates for non residents, as well as electronic and mobile residency, are provided in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 12, 2017, which approved the Rules for Issuing Electronic Signature Certificates to Non Residents through Diplomatic Missions and Consulates of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The second international conference of Azerbaijans Digital Trade Hub was attended by nearly 200 representatives from more than 20 countries, including the United States, Thailand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Turkiye, Morocco, and others.

The sponsors of the second international conference of the Digital Trade Hub were Pasha Bank, Bakcell, and VISA.