Azercell CEO: Azerbaijan has the opportunity of becoming a high-tech hub

Baku, April 21, 2008

Capital investment in the Eurasia region is very promising and effective, said Halim Ateş, Chief Executive Officer of Azerbaijan’s leading mobile operator Azercell Telecom LLC at the 7th Caspian Telecoms 2008 Conference and Showcase in Istanbul.

APA-Economics’ correspondent reports from Istanbul that Halim Ateş attributed the fast ICT growth to the dynamic development of the countries in this region.

“The trade turnover between this region and other countries tripled over the past seven years. Also, trade between the region countries jumped by 3.5 times,” he added.

According to him, the number of GSM subscribers in four countries – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Moldova where Azercell’s major shareholder Fintur Holding has presence – rose more than 10-fold to 15 million and the Internet subscribers increased more than 12-fold to 3 million.

“This is a herald of the fast ICT growth in the Eurasia Region,” he underscored.

He added that Azercell Telecom has focused attention on the human resources development and training in the region, particularly in Azerbaijan.

“We invested $1.5 million in human resources in 2007 alone, and we are committed to proceeding ahead. Human resources of high scientific potential have emerged in Azerbaijan and this has aroused the opportunity of becoming a high-tech hub in the region. To achieve this target is also the objective of the country leadership, and the government provides necessary support and assistance to us to move ahead,” he underlined.