A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, between the Eastern Partnership Center and the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The main purpose of the memorandum is to contribute to the implementation of issues arising from the Decree of Ilham Aliyev dated 22 February 2017 on additional measures to strengthen Azerbaijan’s position as a Digital Trade Hub and to expand foreign trade operations. The signing of such an agreement during Estonia’s presidency of the European Union is expected to contribute to the development of the digital economy between Azerbaijan and this organization.

The Executive Director of CAERC, Vusal Gasimli, stated that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding includes an agreement on developing a joint action plan with Estonia’s Eastern Partnership Center for the advancement of Azerbaijan’s Digital Trade Hub. He added that, within the framework of this action plan, activities related to the development of the Digital Trade Hub will be carried out in cooperation with the European Union, the Eurasian Union, the Gulf countries, China, and within the GUAM format. Vusal Gasimli emphasized that the structures of the European Union, particularly the Estonian government as the current EU presidency, show strong interest in the development of the Digital Trade Hub.

Following the signing ceremony, the Head of Estonia’s Eastern Partnership Center, Jaan Reinhold, stated that Azerbaijan could serve as a model for Eastern Partnership countries in terms of digital economy development. He noted that it would be appropriate to disseminate the example of Azerbaijan’s Digital Trade Hub and the Azexport portal among Eastern Partnership countries. According to Jaan Reinhold, if Azerbaijan had previously become a hub for transportation, logistics, and energy projects at the center of Eurasia, it now also has the potential to transform into a hub of the digital economy.