BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Azerbaijan can
position itself as an energy supplier and a hub for large data
centers and technology companies, Executive Director of the Center
for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution
(C4IR), Fariz Jafarov said, Trend’s correspondent at the event reports.


He made the statement at the event “Technovation – Science and
Innovation for Sustainable Economic Transformation,” organized by
the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham Azerbaijan)
in Baku.


According to him, the pace of technological change is currently
accelerating compared to previous industrial revolutions, which is
linked to the development of artificial intelligence, automation,
and virtual reality technologies.


"In today’s environment, economies are measured not only by
gross domestic product but also by the level of data development
and connectivity, which he described as ‘gross data product.’


“According to estimates, the artificial intelligence economy
could reach a volume of about $22 trillion by 2040, whereas in 2025
its volume is about $260 billion,” he said.


He also cited data on planned investments by major technology
companies, including Oracle, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta,
which could allocate approximately $600 billion to data center
infrastructure this year.


According to him, based on data from the International Energy
Agency, energy consumption by data centers could more than double
by 2030 and reach a level comparable to the consumption of all of
Japan.







Jafarov noted that the key constraint in the development of the
artificial intelligence economy is not a lack of ideas, but access
to energy.


He announced that over the past three years, Azerbaijan has
developed a digital economy strategy for 2026–2029, which aims to
support more than 300 local companies and small and medium-sized
enterprises in their digital transformation.


In his words, digital transformation involves not only the
adoption of technologies but also changes in business processes and
mindsets, as well as investments in human capital and
infrastructure.


F. Jafarov pointed out that Azerbaijan views the energy sector
as one of the key drivers of diversification and can position
itself as an energy supplier and a hub for data centers and
technology companies.


He also mentioned SOCAR's agreements with Haimaker and Oracle to
establish data centers in Azerbaijan, noting that SOCAR is
transforming from an energy company into an entity involved in
computing and investments in artificial intelligence.


Furthermore, Jafarov highlighted the development of digital
infrastructure, including the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable
project, which is intended to connect Azerbaijan with Europe and
Asia.