As prepared for delivery

Dear Deputy Minister Elmir Velizadeh,

Dear Ms. Yuliya Kerimova/ Director of school #23

dear students,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Colleagues and friends,

Sabahiniz kheyir! (Good morning)!

It is my pleasure to greet you today on behalf of the entire team of UNDP Azerbaijan on this special day. Allow me to say that today, we are making history. For the first time in the history of this country we are launching a brand new state-of-the-art Robotec=h Lab, together with our trusted partner –the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies.

Clearly, in the age of global digitalisation, nowadays the Internet plays a pivotal role in holistic development efforts. Sustainable development goals, to which all of us are committed –us as UN and you as the Government, academia and the broader communities, cannot be achieved without affordable and universal access to ICTs. Internet and digital technologies are utilised across multiple sectors and industries, including health, education, agriculture, disaster relief, and environmental protection, among many more. Worldwide communication is now faster and easier than ever. Telemedicine and e-learning are available to people in remote areas, and mobile technologies are empowering millions of men and women in developing countries, creating entrepreneurial opportunities and grounds for inclusion that were not available before. The use of ICTs in providing quality education and helping the youth of today who are the future of tomorrow broaden their horizons, is on the rise today –both through formal education and extracurricular activities available to kids at school and after school. And in order to make all these resources available to children, UNDP, together with the Government work hand in hand, which is why we are all here today. The Government of Azerbaijan has always demonstrated strong interest and commitment to advancing the ICT systems and infrastructure in the country.

We are proud that in the spirit of successful cooperation with the Government, UNDP and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies are opening the inaugural RoboLab at this prominent school number 23, the one-of-a-kind pioneer of robotics facilities in Azerbaijan.

The RoboLab that we are establishing is in fact a product based on an internationally acclaimed Arduino platform –the world-class educational facility that helps to understand computer and robotic technologies. Up until now, the Arduino platform was never available in Azerbaijan before.

We have partnered with a local tech company Sumaks Technologies to set up this nice room here where we are all gathered now, which is appointed with the cutting-edge Arduino technology and Lego Kit teaching laboratory.

While mastering their IT and programming potential, the RoboLab will also create a rewarding environment for children learning mechanics and electronics and really become savvies of high-tech development platforms.

With this, I would actually like to address the students of the school number 23. I invite all of you to take full advantage of this resource that’s made available to you and actively use opportunities created in this Lab. This is just a beginning of our future innovative investments in youth.

Kheyirli olsun! Chokh sagh olun!

Thank you for your attention!