Baku, September 30 – A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by Ulvi Mehdiyev, the Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan, is currently visiting Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. This visit signifies a notable development in international cooperation focused on public service delivery.
Azerbaijan and Dominican Republic Sign Key Agreement
During their visit, the Azerbaijani delegation met with José Ignacio Paliza, the Minister of the Presidency in the Dominican Republic. Mehdiyev discussed Azerbaijan’s “ASAN Khidmet” initiative, which is focused on providing citizen-oriented public services and implementing innovative public administration methods.
The meeting highlighted the Dominican Republic’s interest in enhancing bilateral relations, with Dominican officials acknowledging the potential benefits of adopting the ASAN Khidmet model in their own governance practices. This engagement underscores a mutual desire to explore opportunities for collaboration in public service innovation.
Further discussions in the Dominican Republic included a meeting with Sigmund Freund, the Minister of Public Administration. This meeting culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, aimed at facilitating the implementation of the ASAN Khidmet framework in the Caribbean nation.
The terms of the Memorandum include provisions for training Dominican civil servants by Azerbaijani experts, alongside the development of operational standards necessary for the successful deployment of the ASAN Khidmet model. This agreement marks the first instance of Azerbaijan’s public service initiative being established in a Caribbean country, making the Dominican Republic the 53rd nation to adopt this framework.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Ruslan Rzayev, was present during the meetings, which aimed to strengthen ties between the two countries through enhanced public service practices.
Why It Matters: The implementation of the ASAN Khidmet model in the Dominican Republic could serve as a pivotal step in improving public service efficiency and transparency in the region. The collaboration reflects a growing trend of international sharing of best practices in governance, potentially leading to enhanced service delivery for citizens.
