For Immediate Release

Consulate General of Azerbaijan
Los Angeles
Contact: Elman Abdullayev

Minister of Communications and Information Technologies
Concludes a Successful West Coast Visit

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Los Angeles, CA – July 20, 2006 – Azerbaijan’s Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov led a delegation of government officials and private companies on a visit to the Silicon Valley on July 13-14. The delegation participated in the first U.S.–Azerbaijan Forum on Information and Communications Technologies in San Jose, CA. The event was co-sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the U.S.- Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles.

Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Abbasov emphasized the importance attached by the Government to developing Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector and focused on the plans to facilitate major investment in information technologies. Specifically, he outlined plans for establishing Special Economic Zones and a legal framework, which would facilitate and protect investments in new technologies. Minister Abbasov’s remarks were followed by presentations of the industry representatives from Azerbaijan, including AZEL, SINAM and ULTRA. Also speaking at the Forum was a world-renown scientist Lotfi Zadeh, who shared his insights with the participants. While in California, the delegation paid site visits to INTEL, CISCO SYSTEMS and HP. Later, Minister Abbasov held meetings with Microsoft Corporation at the company headquarters in Redmond, WA.

The Consulate General is also pleased to announce that this year, on October 3-6, 2006, Azerbaijan will host the international conference on information technologies and communications –BakuTel 2006. For further information regarding BakuTel 2006- please contact the Consulate General.