Staff Correspondent

 Faqir Mahbub Anam, Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Science and Technology, stated that simply placing a service online does not constitute full digitalization, emphasizing that digital transformation must be measured by how easily, quickly, transparently, and accessibly citizens can receive services.

The minister made the remarks on Friday while participating in a cross-examination dialogue titled "Challenging Conventional Approaches to Governance Innovation and Anticipatory Governance" at the eighth session of the UN Governance Innovation Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Addressing the panel, Anam underscored that technology alone cannot transform public administration. He noted that while connectivity serves as the foundation, institutional readiness ultimately turns connectivity into tangible public benefits. He emphasized that prior to introducing new technologies, governments must understand administrative bottlenecks, streamline bureaucratic processes, clarify agency responsibilities, and ensure inter-institutional coordination.

The minister highlighted three core capacities essential for effective digital governance: capable and accountable institutions with interoperable data systems, a skilled workforce equipped to operate with modern technologies, and public trust built on robust data governance, cybersecurity, privacy protection, and accessible grievance-redress mechanisms.

"Technology will not force citizens to adapt to the government system; rather, the government system will adapt to citizens," Anam asserted, adding that technology itself can help identify institutional barriers and accelerate state reforms.

The session, moderated by Jeyhun Salmanov, Deputy Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan, also featured ministerial delegates from Lesotho, Mauritania, and Mexico.