The United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has included Azerbaijan’s Digital Trade Hub among the nominees for the prestigious ICT award “WSIS 2018.”

Azerbaijan’s Digital Trade Hub is one of 38 nominated projects listed on the website of the International Telecommunication Union (https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/prizes/2018/) under the category "ICT Applications: Benefits in All Aspects of Life – E-business."

The manager of the Digital Trade Hub of Azerbaijan, Nijat Asadli, told AZERTAC that it is a great achievement for the country's innovative and digital project to be featured in such an international competition.

“This is a recognition from one of the world’s most reputable international organizations — the United Nations and its specialized agency, the International Telecommunication Union — for Azerbaijan’s efforts in building an innovative economy. Having passed the initial stage, the Digital Trade Hub must now gather enough votes to be among the top five to move on to the next phase. Voting is currently active on the ITU website and open to all users,” Asadli emphasized.

It should be noted that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations’ specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Each year, the ITU holds the WSIS Forum, selecting and awarding nominees among participants who implement development-oriented projects in the ICT field. The key criterion in the selection process is the use of ICT for development. Projects submitted by individuals, governments, civil society, local, regional and international organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector are reviewed, evaluated, and those receiving the most votes are awarded.

Azerbaijan’s Digital Trade Hub was established by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication in accordance with the Presidential Decree dated February 22, 2017, titled "On additional measures to strengthen the position of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a Digital Trade Hub and to expand foreign trade operations."

It should also be recalled that the purpose of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication is to ensure the sustainable economic development of the country by conducting macro- and microeconomic analysis and research, preparing proposals based on analytical data for the implementation of economic reforms, as well as preparing medium- and long-term forecasts, providing these forecasts to state institutions and agencies, and promoting Azerbaijan’s achievements in various sectors of the economy.