According to Velizade, ICT Technical Committee established under the Ministry is engaged in the preparation of standards in the ICT sector and localization of international standards into the Azerbaijani language.

"At present, around 30 standards have been passed in the ICT sector in Azerbaijan, including information security standards, standards on the creation of information technologies, terminology, and others. Work in this direction continues," he said.

Among the latest standards, which are to be adopted in Azerbaijan, are those for biometric technologies, for digital television in the development of software products and standards on terminology. International standards serve as a basis for their preparation, Velizade said.

Work to develop the ICT sector in Azerbaijan is underway in accordance with the action plan for the ICT Year, which was announced in Azerbaijan in 2013.

Velizade also said the work on organizing the activity of the State Fund for ICT Development is drawing to a close. According to him, the fund will finance projects of new companies, as well as projects of companies which already have a foothold in the Azerbaijani market, and ICT projects implemented abroad.

The State Fund was established to implement the state policy on development and support of small enterprises in the scientific and technical fields and defines three ways of financing - investments, grants and credits. Each Azerbaijani citizen may avail of the advantages of the ICT Fund's financing. The initial financing volume for 2013 is 15 million manats (over $19 million).