Khankendi:An international forum titled “SOCGOV 2026 Digital Analytics for Smart Governance” was held in Khankendi, gathering government officials from various countries alongside local and international experts. The event, organized by the DOST Agency under Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, aimed to explore the prospects of applying artificial intelligence and digital analytics to enhance social services and improve state-citizen relations.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the forum featured speeches and video addresses from several prominent figures. Turkish Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Isikhan highlighted the digital transformation of public services in Turkey, noting that by the end of 2025, over 68 million users had accessed the “e-Government Gateway” portal, which offers more than 9,000 services. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Secretary General of the International Social Security Association, emphasized the role of artificial intelligence and data-driven solutions in making social security more accessible and efficient.
Christian Fillet, Chair of the European Social Network, also addressed the forum, discussing the benefits of digital analytics and artificial intelligence in social services. Sirojiddin Abdullayev, Deputy Director of Uzbekistan’s National Social Protection Agency, shared that up to 80 percent of Uzbekistan’s social services are provided digitally and noted cooperative initiatives between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the social services sector.
The forum concluded with the adoption of a Declaration supporting the SOCGOV initiative as a platform for international dialogue and partnership in social governance. The document stressed the need for reliable data, modern analytical tools, and evidence-based decision-making in shaping social policy. Additionally, a joint event organized by ASAN Service and Karabakh University took place, with delegations from Turkey and Uzbekistan visiting Victory Park and Karabakh University in Khankendi.