Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov held a bilateral meeting with Gareth Thomas, the UK’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports) at the Department for Business and Trade to discuss key issues on the bilateral cooperation.
Two ministers co-chaired the 7th Meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland took place in London.
Minister Shahbazov emphasized President Ilham Aliyev’s commitment to deepening ties with the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan’s primary trading partner. He highlighted the UK’s position as the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan, with over $37 billion in investments.
More than 500 British companies currently operate in Azerbaijan across diverse sectors. A fourfold increase in bilateral trade turnover in the first quarter of this year reflects the dynamic growth of the partnership.
He also underlined the strategic cooperation with bp, which has invested more than $35 billion in Azerbaijan's oil and gas sector. This collaboration is expanding to include green energy initiatives, such as the soon-to-begin construction of the Shafag Solar Power Plant. This project exemplifies joint efforts in renewable energy and decarbonization.
Shahbazov also welcomed broader cooperation with UK companies and noted the £5 billion loan guarantee from UK Export Finance (UKEF) for priority projects in energy transition, transportation, and infrastructure.
The meeting gathered representatives from around 30 Azerbaijani government agencies. Discussions covered over 20 sectors, with presentations on development prospects and opportunities for cooperation in areas including:
Energy transition (renewables, grid development, emissions reduction, liberalization of the electricity market, offshore wind, solar, and hydrogen)
Financial and professional services
Technology and artificial intelligence
SME promotion, cybersecurity, education, science, and healthcare
Youth, culture, and sports
Additional areas of focus included infrastructure development via the Middle Corridor, mutual investment, textile industry collaboration, water and waste management, transport, aviation, digital construction, and demining.
The sides agreed to enhance cooperation on regulatory alignment, expand participation in industrial parks and economic zones (including the Alat Free Economic Zone), and facilitate exports and business environments in both countries.
The need to expedite the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Azerbaijan and the UK was also highlighted.
In his remarks, Minister Gareth Thomas stated: "Today’s deals with Azerbaijan will allow for an even closer working relationship between our two nations. Our Plan for Change to drive economic growth is at the heart of these agreements, boosting exports and services across the energy, infrastructure, and education sectors. Azerbaijan has long been a key partner for many UK industries, and these deals will solidify that partnership for years to come."
During the event:
- A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UKEF and AZPROMO.
- A Protocol on the Outcomes of the 7th session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission was signed.
It was agreed that the 8th meeting of the Commission will be held in Baku in 2026.
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-bor...
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 Amer...
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law on Friday, creating the first U.S. regulatory framework for dollar-backed stablecoins and m...
German authorities have arrested a Libyan man accused of overseeing torture and sexual abuse at a notorious prison in Tripoli, the International Crimi...
Baku and Kyiv have signed an economic cooperation plan during the 13th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine as well as discussed gas supplies.
The UK and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) aimed at enabling increased UK investment into Japan, further strengthening the economic ties between the two nations.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs, on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan.
On Monday, an Uzbekistan delegation led by Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, met with Mikayil Jabbarov, Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister, which resulted in the signing of agreements between leading companies from both countries.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
U.S. markets closed mostly flat Friday, capping a third winning week out of four.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law on Friday, creating the first U.S. regulatory framework for dollar-backed stablecoins and marking a major win for the crypto industry.
Oil prices edged higher on Friday, heading for a small weekly loss, as investors weighed new European Union sanctions against Russia.
As some top global banks scale back climate efforts, India is moving forward with mandatory rules for lenders to report and manage climate-related financial risks.
The Indian rupee is expected to open stronger on Friday, supported by gains in other Asian currencies and a temporary pause in the U.S. dollar index’s upward trend.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment