“PASHA Technology” LLC is at the forefront of the IT landscape in Azerbaijan, navigating the intricate web of technology infrastructure development and its correlation with the socio-environmental landscape. In an era where sustainable tech models and continuous innovation aren’t just buzzwords but essential for societal progression, “PASHA Technology” LLC places the community and consumers at the core of their business ethos. Today, we’re honoured to have an interview with Mr. Amir Valibayov, the CEO of “PASHA Technology” LLC, to gain insights into this transformative journey and the company’s role in catalysing positive change in Azerbaijan.” Amir, having been in the IT sector since the 1990s, you’ve witnessed the remarkable journey of IT evolution in Azerbaijan. How would you describe this road? The 1990’s were humble beginnings. Few people knew how to operate a computer, and simply possessing that skill was seen as a major advantage. As time went on, computers began playing more central role in daily life. In those early days, IT community was small due to the limited number of specialists. Despite of this, IT professionals typically had a broad knowledge base, covering almost every aspect of the sector. Herein, IT landscape has evolved with numerous specialists entering the field since that period of time. Although the number of professionals has grown significantly, there has been a noticeable shift towards more specialized knowledge. Gone are the days when a handful of professionals understood the entire sector. Nowadays, the market has a growing number of individuals possessing deep expertise in specific areas. Moreover, the recent political shifts have attracted foreign specialists, primarily from Russia and Ukraine. Their presence has enriched the sector with diverse expertise, introducing a new level of competition. This has been beneficial for the local IT market, broadening the scope of knowledge and spurring innovation. In light of the recent global events, how the coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the IT industry in Azerbaijan? It may sound odd, but before the pandemic the IT sector was starting to lose momentum. The reason of decline was that the application of IT technologies had become commonplace, and businesses began to treat them as just another part of their routine operations, often not allocating special focus on resources. This attitude led to a gradual weakening in the sector’s growth and innovation. But the pandemic changed everything. Companies were forced to modify how they operated and interacted with clients, necessitating the increased deployment of IT solutions. As they transitioned to a hybrid work model, new criteria and challenges began to emerge. Within this model, a need for new tools to monitor the quality of work of both employees and the company as a whole arose. The alteration in procedures mandated implementation of new functionalities. All these applications were realized through the expansion of IT technologies. Even post-pandemic, a hybrid work model remains relevant. Companies discovered its efficiency and cost-saving potential during the pandemic, Developing Talent of New Generation Brings New Horizons in IT Sector Special interview with Amir Valibayov CEO, PASHA Technology member contribution 49 which has continued to drive the intensive application of IT technologies. As the demand for IT experts grows, how wellequipped is Azerbaijan in fostering and retaining these professionals? We have greater resources for nurturing new talent now. For starters, the sheer volume of online educational materials and remote learning opportunities is impressive. We’re also noticing increased attention to this field in local educational institutions, such as the inauguration of the School of Information and Engineering at ADA. However, seeing immediate results is unrealistic; we’ll likely have to wait at least five years. However, continuous movement in the right direction with proper training courses can yield significant results in the near future. A major concern remains the “brain drain” in the IT sector, a leader among sectors experiencing this in Azerbaijan. This is mainly due to high global demand for IT specialists and attractive financial packages abroad. Local companies, including ours, are keen on retaining local talent, and here, the state support in the form of tax incentives for IT roles could be invaluable. By offering more competitive salaries, we can mitigate this brain drain to some extent. Speaking of state support, can you elaborate on its impact to the IT sector? Absolutely. The IT sector in Azerbaijan has witnessed substantial government backing. Notably, 2013 was declared the “Year of information and communication technologies” in Azerbaijan, and this support has only grown. Years ago, we’d attend numerous IT events abroad. It’s heartening now to see such events being hosted right here. In November, for instance, we’ll be hosting a global IT event InMerge Innovation Summit for the second time, attracting top managers from leading global IT companies. Apart from this, Azerbaijan has also played host to other major events like Technofest and CIDS. Moreover, learning and applying foreign expertise in implementation of IT technologies is paramount. For example, in Türkiye, a unified strategy has been crafted in this sector, and all institutions deploy IT technologies not sporadically, but based on this unified strategy. It’s encouraging to see similar steps being taken in our country. The focus on implementing IT technologies in the public sector, as seen with projects like the e-government, is also commendable. While there’s a lot of work ahead, the fact that we’re on the right track is indeed exhilarating. Yet, every sector faces different challenges. What are the pressing issues for the IT sector today? While the pandemic has spurred some positive developments in the IT sector, it’s not without challenges. One of our primary issues has arisen from disruptions in the supply chain due to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve encountered significant difficulties in production and logistics. There have been notable delays in manufacturing and receiving orders—sometimes extending up to a year. Even with the pandemic’s conclusion, the robust growth of the IT sector and rising demand continue to present these challenges. These complications are palpable in our local businesses as well. As one of the leading IT companies in the country, we are devoted to showcasing our support for the local business landscape. The services we offer, notably incorporation of cloud technologies, can provide essential assistance to local entities. Through these cloud technologies, we can mitigate some dependencies for our clients. Finally, tell us about “PASHA Technology” LLC’ s future plans. “PASHA Technology” LLC was originally established to meet the IT needs of companies affiliated with PASHA Holding. Throughout the years, we have implemented large IT projects with these companies and achieved significant advancements in the quality of our service and the elevation of our technical level. Our operations comply with numerous international standards, including relevant ISO standards. Recently, our compliance with the prestigious PCI DSS standards has also been confirmed. Given our immense potential, over time we have gained the capacity to offer our services to other companies as well. Today, we are capable of presenting IT solutions that meet global standards in the local market. By continuously establishing partnerships with local business entities, we contribute to the development of this sector in Azerbaijan. Biography of our guest Mr. Amir Valibayov is a Chief Executive Officer at “PASHA Technology” LLC. Before joining to PASHA Technology, he was working for “AzInTelecom” and “Azercell Telecom”. Mr. Valibayov has graduated from the Faculty of Gas and Oil Mining of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. Afterwards, he completed his master’s degree and received the degree of candidate of sciences in Information Technology.