UN Public Service Forum gets underway in Baku

On June 24, the UN’s Public Service Forum commenced its work at the Heydar Aliyev Centre, with joint organizational support from the United Nations Organization and the State Agency for Serving Citizens and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva attended the Forum’s opening ceremony.

State management and public service ministers from various countries, as well as heads of local government bodies, academic circles and of the private sector joined this year’s forum, which brought together over 500 representatives from more than 190 countries of the world.

The Forum has been organized since 2003, on the eve of 23^rd June – the UN’s Public Service Day. The objective of holding this forum is to have discussions over advanced models of state management and provision of public services, innovations and urgent issues in this area, as well as exchange of advanced experience by states in this field. The most advanced and innovative models throughout the world will be awarded in the framework of the Forum.

Plenary sessions, workshops on 9 different urgent topics and 4 parallel events will be arranged in the framework of this Forum, the first UN event being organized in Azerbaijan in the field of providing public services. At the same time, decoration of winners of the UN Public Service Award for this year on 5 different categories, and signing of agreements on establishing cooperation between the State Agency and a number of entities of foreign countries are expected to take place.

The most important factors that provide grounds for holding the Forum in the Republic of Azerbaijan include the achievements reached in the country in the sphere of providing public services, as well as the successful service provided by “ASAN Service” and its decoration with the Public Service Award of the UN in 2015.

First, a collective photo was taken.

Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the Forum’s opening ceremony.

Then, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin spoke.

Liu Zhenmin presented the special award of the UN in the sphere of advancing public service by applying digital government in the country to Mehriban Aliyeva.

Thereafter, chairperson of State Agency for Serving Citizens and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ulvi Mehdiyev, rector of the Gunadarma University of the Indonesian Republic and Vice-president of the Private Universities Association, professor Mrs Eko Sri Margianti delivered a speech.

The Forum continued its work in sessions related to various topics.