November 17, 2025 Results of “Digital Connectivity Seminar for Central Asia and the Caucasus-Bridging Divides and Fostering Inclusion through Regional Cooperation-" and Signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) held the “Digital Connectivity Seminar for Central Asia and the Caucasus” in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, November 15, 2025. On this occasion, the MIC concluded a memorandum of cooperation in the field of information and communications and postal services with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan. On the same day, a presentation ceremony for the signed memorandum of cooperation was held between State Minister HORIUCHI Noriko and Mr. Samir MAMMADOV, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport.

1. Digital Connectivity Seminar for Central Asia and the Caucasus

① Date and Venue

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Venue: Baku, Azerbaijan

② Participants and Participating Organizations

Japan side: HORIUCHI Noriko, State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; WATANABE Katsuya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Azerbaijan; IMAGAWA Takuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs and Communications; others

Participating countries: Azerbaijan Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, Deputy Minister; Kazakhstan Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Vice-Minister; Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Digital Development and Innovation Technologies, Deputy Minister; Georgia Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development; Tajikistan Agency for Innovation and Digital Technology; Turkmenistan Ministry of Communications; Uzbekistan Ministry of Digital Technologies

Other participants: The World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Japanese companies (NEC Corporation, NTT Corporation, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Digital Knowledge Co., Ltd.), Azerbaijani companies, among others.

③ Seminar Overview

The MIC held the “Digital Connectivity Seminar for Central Asia and the Caucasus-Bridging Divides and Fostering Inclusion through Regional Cooperation-" in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
At the seminar, State Minister HORIUCHI Noriko delivered a keynote speech on the importance of digital connectivity for regional development. Representatives from countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus region, Japanese and Azerbaijani companies, and international organizations discussed concrete possibilities for digital cooperation aimed at regional stability and development through the strengthening of digital connectivity.

2. Signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation

① Background of the Memorandum

The MIC has held a series of discussions with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport with a view to concluding a memorandum of cooperation in the fields of information and communications and postal services. As both countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation in these fields, HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and Mr. Rashad NABIYEV, Minister for Digital Development and Transport, signed the memorandum of cooperation. A presentation ceremony for the signed memorandum of cooperation was held between State Minister HORIUCHI Noriko and Mr. Samir MAMMADOV, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport, on the occasion of the seminar held in Azerbaijan.

② Summary of the Memorandum of Cooperation

• ICT infrastructure development (broadband, mobile networks, data centers, etc.)
• Postal infrastructure development (sorting centers, post offices, etc.)
• Promotion of ICT and postal industry development, investment attraction, technological innovation, and technical support
• Human resource development and capacity building
• Implementation of innovative pilot projects

3. Summary of Bilateral Meetings

Taking the opportunity of this seminar, HORIUCHI Noriko, State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and others held bilateral meetings as follows, deepening dialogue on shared policy issues with each counterpart.

• Azerbaijan: Samir MAMMADOV, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport
• Kazakhstan: Doszhan MUSSALIYEV, Vice-Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development
• Kyrgyzstan: Zamirbek KOZHOMURATOV, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Innovation Technologies

4. Future Policy Direction

Through partnerships aimed at strengthening digital connectivity in the region and the memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the MIC will continue to support efforts to enhance the international competitiveness of Japan’s ICT industry and promote further global collaboration.

(The following are scenes from the seminar.)