BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 29.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of
artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and related digital
technologies has been signed between the Ministry of Digital
Development and Transport and Wonderful, a company that provides an
AI operating system for large enterprises and organizations of
strategic importance.
This was announced in a report by the Ministry of Digital
Development and Transport.
According to the information, the document establishes a
framework for cooperation to explore the implementation of AI
solutions, based on the Wonderful platform, within ministries,
government agencies, and state-owned enterprises. The primary
objective is to improve the delivery of public services, making
them faster, more accessible, and better aligned with the needs of
citizens and business entities, while simultaneously ensuring that
government institutions operate more efficiently and on a larger
scale.
The parties envision the creation of a shared AI platform,
equipped with management and oversight mechanisms, designed to
serve citizens, business entities, and government institutions. The
platform is planned to be hosted on Azerbaijan’s “Government Cloud”
(G-Cloud). Within this framework, the parties will jointly identify
application areas with high-impact potential and explore
opportunities for the broader implementation of successful
solutions across the public sector.
The signing ceremony held in Baku was attended by Deputy
Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Hasanov,
Chairman of the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development
Agency (IDDA) Farid Osmanov, and a delegation led by Bar Winkler,
Co-founder and CEO of Wonderful. The delegation also included Omer
Perez, the company’s Managing Director for Central and Eastern
Europe, and Vitaly Gordon, General Manager for the Caucasus and
Central Asia.
Hasanov said that the true value of AI is measured by its
potential to enhance the efficiency of public administration and
improve public access to government services.
“Through our collaboration with the company Wonderful, we aim to
explore the implementation of solutions that can make public
administration more efficient, agile, and accessible. This
partnership also aligns with the priorities of the ‘Action Plan for
Accelerating Digital Development (2026–2028)’ and is part of our
broader efforts to ensure that technological progress delivers
tangible benefits to citizens, businesses, and the economy as a
whole,” the deputy minister noted.
Winkler emphasized that they view Azerbaijan as a strategic and
long-term partner.
“Our goal is to support the government, citizens, and
strategically important organizations in meeting their needs within
the field of artificial intelligence. In addition to our
partnership, we are pleased to be expanding our local team and
operations in Baku, as well as accelerating the adoption of
artificial intelligence across the country,” he said.
Initial areas for AI
implementation
Following the signing of the memorandum, a round table on AI was
held, involving the Innovation and Digital Development Agency and
several government institutions. The meeting focused on the
development and implementation of pilot projects across priority
areas.
Wonderful showcased the capabilities of its unified platform by
demonstrating AI solutions tailored to the needs of the
participating government institutions. The presentations covered
areas such as verifying residency-related applications, validating
import documentation, providing an anonymous assistant in the
Azerbaijani language for families, offering voice-based support for
“mygov” services, and assisting public transport passengers.
These solutions are aimed at simplifying existing processes
across various service sectors, making services faster and more
accessible, and increasing citizen satisfaction.
Strengthening local capacity and expanding
operations in Azerbaijan
The parties have agreed to cooperate on strengthening local
capacity, exchanging knowledge and experience, and developing
relevant skills.
Wonderful plans to invest in Azerbaijan for the long term, which
includes establishing a local legal entity in Baku, recruiting
local professionals, and providing training to Azerbaijani
specialists. As an initial commitment in this regard, the company
has already hired its first employee in Azerbaijan. This step marks
a concrete beginning toward building a local team and establishing
long-term operations in the country.
The objective is to ensure that AI solutions contribute to
Azerbaijan’s long-term national digital development goals. The
cooperation also envisages supporting the development of
Azerbaijan’s domestic information and communication technology
(ICT) industry and enhancing the international competitiveness of
the technology sector.
Laying foundation for widespread application of
AI in public sector
Initial collaboration with government agencies aims to lay the
groundwork for the broader application of AI within Azerbaijan’s
public sector. In this context, the initiative includes exploring
opportunities to scale the implementation of successful solutions
across other government institutions.
The memorandum aligns with the objectives of the “Artificial
Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025–2028”
and the “Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development for
2026–2028,” as well as with the measures being implemented by the
ministry to foster a modern, citizen-centric, and data-driven
public sector.
