The official opening of Azerbaijani women in ICT Club Femmes Digitales took place within the framework of the exhibition and conference BakuTel-2014. The FEMMES DIGITALES is the first professional structure in the country, bringing together women, related to information and communication technologies
The purpose of the Club is to unite women and girls in the ICT area, working in the public and private sectors, as well as in the sphere of social activity.
Making an opening speech at the ceremony, Elnur Aslanli, head of E-Governence Development Department of the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies (MCHT) noted the importance of creation of such a club.
Speaking at the event the founder of the club Femmes Digitales, Best Solutions CEO Jana Krimpe said despite the fact that she is from Estonia, but she has lived in Azerbaijan for more than 10 years, and has seen a special regard to women in this country, which she has never seen in another country.
“Azerbaijan, which has always played a leading role in the provision of unlimited opportunities for women, acknowledges and supports the leading role played by female professionals in the further development and maintenance of the dynamic and competitive ICT sector. The purpose of the Club is to unite women and girls in the ICT area, working in the public and private sectors, as well as in the sphere of social activity, said the Club’s founder Jana Krimpe. Speaking at the opening of the Club, Sabina Parvizi, Marketing Manager and one of the founders at Microsoft stated the importance of girls’ receiving education in ICT. 10% increase in the number of girls in ICT education may bring about an increase of 3% of GDP, she said.
Then reports were delivered by Bakcell representative Xaver Qambayzade on the topic “What is the woman who was successful in Azerbaijan’s ICT sphere?”, representative from Academy of Ethics Gunel Ibrahimli, “Role of youth organizations in increasing women’s participation in ICT” and representative of company Azerfon LLC Nigar Arpadarai “How to involve women in newly created companies and make their career in ICT sphere.
Gunel Ibrahimli said in her speech that in fact the creation of the club is a message to the world.
“The creation of such a club shows interest among women in Azerbaijan in exact sciences and creation of opportunities for them to acquire knowledge in this area. At present, part of tests to be filled in during recruitment requires ICT skills and knowledge and in the absence of this knowledge women give 70-80% of the labor market to men. That is why parents should not limit their children’s choice of profession and create opportunities for them to receive education and acquire specialized knowledge in this area, where there is seen a high demand in the labour market, and should stand by stereotypes, she said.
The event was also attended by former Estonian Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland and Head of the EU delegation in Azerbaijan Malena Mard, spoke and shared their opinions and experience.
The founders and members of the Club are planning their example and practical activities to increase Azerbaijani women’s and girls’ desire to make a career and receive education in this exciting and rapidly growing field, enjoy the ICT benefits as consumers, and users in order to make their life better.
Azerbaijan, which has always played a leading role in the provision of unlimited opportunities for women, acknowledges and supports the leading role played by female professionals in the further development and maintenance of the dynamic and competitive ICT sector.
The world’s growing demand for a range of skills in the ICT sector is a unique opportunity to determine properly the place of girls and women in the industry and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.
Among the founders of the Club are women holding leading positions in different companies and organizations of Azerbaijan, such as the B.est Solutions, Microsoft, HP, Azercell, Bakcell, Azerfon, BBTV, the Communications & High Technologies Ministry, AGAT, ITECA, High Tech Research Center, ASAN, Mont LLC, and etc.
