Minister Işıkhan Attended the SocGov 2026: International Forum on Digital Analytics and Smart Governance and Social Awards Programme in Azerbaijan

Delivering a speech in the programme, Minister Işıkhan congratulated Azerbaijan on the impressive developments recorded in the city of Khankendi following its liberation from occupation, stating: “As we mark these days following the Day of Restoration of Independence of Azerbaijan, I once again extend my heartfelt congratulations to the fraternal Azerbaijani people on their national holiday. I would particularly like to emphasise that the brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan continues to be maintained through a strong bond under the leadership of our Esteemed Presidents.”

Emphasising that a strong social security system requires not only safeguarding people but also accurately identifying needs and ensuring that public resources are utilised in a fair, effective and accountable manner, Işıkhan stated: “Digital transformation and data analytics make significant contributions to shaping our social policies through more accurate decisions. However, while benefiting from these opportunities, we also believe that a human-centred approach based on human dignity, transparency, accountability, the protection of personal data and equal access to services must be adopted. In this regard, I would like to state that, as Türkiye, we are continuing digital transformation in public services with a human-oriented and holistic approach.”

Minister Işıkhan recalled that, through the e-Government Gateway, which was launched in 2008 and now has nearly 70 million users, citizens can access thousands of public services from a single point in a fast and secure manner, and continued as follows:

“The digital services of our Social Security Institution (SSI) are also among the most widely used services on the e-Government Gateway, receiving more than 1 billion clicks annually. While reducing bureaucracy and improving the quality of our services through our domestic software and applications, we aim to monitor the changing needs of the labour market more effectively through artificial intelligence-powered tools and data analysis. Of course, when using these technologies, the protection of personal data, transparency, accountability, algorithmic fairness and human oversight must remain our fundamental principles.”

Emphasising the particular importance of cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan in the fields of labour and social security, Işıkhan stated: “Our relations are based not only on deep-rooted historical, cultural and linguistic ties, but also on a long-standing understanding of solidarity and mutual respect. We are determined to further develop our cooperation, which rests on a strong institutional foundation in the fields of labour and social security, in line with the evolving needs of our societies. Türkiye is always ready to deepen cooperation in the field of social governance, both at the bilateral level and through relevant regional and international platforms. In this regard, I also believe that SocGov 2026 will make a valuable contribution to this joint endeavour by facilitating the exchange of knowledge between countries and institutions, showcasing good practices and encouraging the establishment of new partnerships.”

At the end of his speech, Minister Işıkhan wished the forum every success and expressed his gratitude, stating: “I would like to thank, in particular, my esteemed brother, Minister Anar Aliyev, the DOST Agency and everyone who has contributed to the organisation of this event.”

Işıkhan subsequently held a bilateral meeting with Anar Aliyev, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan.