By Aygun Baliyarli
Copyright trend
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. On September
26, ADA University is hosting the second day of the inaugural
Azerbaijan-UK Political Dialogue, organized by the Institute for
Development and Diplomacy (IDD), Trend reports.
The event, held in partnership with the British-Azerbaijani
Chamber of Commerce and bp, focuses on bilateral relations and
strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the UK in a changing
global order, regional security in the South Caucasus, cooperation,
foreign policy priorities, energy cooperation, and public diplomacy
through education, science, and innovation. The dialogue will
promote mutual understanding and practical cooperation on regional
and global challenges.
Addressing the participants of the event, Azerbaijan’s Deputy
Minister of Energy, Orkhan Zeynalov spoke about the development of
the country’s energy potential. He stressed that Azerbaijan
continues to reliably supply natural gas to 14 countries in Europe
and beyond. According to him, the current dynamics demonstrate
Azerbaijan’s high export potential not only in Europe but also
”The Middle East and Türkiye, which could serve as a strategic
energy hub, are of particular importance. This concerns not only
natural gas supplies, but also the development of clean energy
delivery routes to Europe and the Middle East. At the same time, it
is important to consider the possibilities for introducing advanced
technologies, including vacuum energy solutions, for example, in
Saudi Arabia, which could drive green energy projects,” the deputy
minister noted.
Andrew Mennear, Senior Director of Government Relations at bp,
noted that over the past 15 years, more than 250 British companies
have signed contracts with bp in Azerbaijan, generating over £8.5
According to him, the potential for partnership between
Azerbaijan and the UK goes far beyond energy. “The British
government’s approach has traditionally emphasized the country’s
role as a magnet for energy companies. However, cooperation can
extend to other sectors. The very fact that this dialogue is taking
place is a significant step forward.”
In turn, Malini Mehra, CEO of Globe Legistarors and curator of
Baku Climate Action Week, noted that it would be advisable to
launch a program to support small and medium-sized enterprises
through digital channels, creating a bilateral corridor that would
connect Baku’s free economic zones with London accelerators such as
White City Campus.
“These accelerators are an effective tool for supporting
companies on both sides in establishing and developing bilateral
business. For example, it is possible to initially support the
entry of 25 British companies into the Eurasian market in
Azerbaijan and, similarly, 25 Azerbaijani companies into the UK by
2027,” she noted.
Nigel Adams, CEO of Better Earth Limited and a former member of
the UK Parliament, noted the successful strategic partnership
between the two countries. “Our cooperation began in the oil and
gas sector. This industry has created jobs and brought prosperity.
You only have to look around to see how much Baku has achieved in
recent decades.”
Furthermore, Zibar Huseynova, Executive Director of the British
Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan, emphasized that the UK is
already actively involved in the development of construction,
services, finance, and education in Azerbaijan.
“Compared to other chambers and organizations, we represent the
largest community of foreign investors in Azerbaijan. We can share
the valuable experience and lessons that our investors have gained
here, and they can serve as an example for future development,” she
