UK, London, 10 March / Trend , N.Ismayilova/
Business community of Great Britain has got familiarized with the investment opportunities of Azerbaijan's economy within the trade and investment forum "The United Kingdom in Azerbaijan", which took place in London on March 8, 2010. The forum was organized with the support of the Middle East Association and the International Bank of Azerbaijan.
According to Director General of the Middle East Association (MEA), Michael Thomas, despite that Azerbaijan is a strategic country in the region, it has a lot more than oil and gas, with which the British business community has got familiarized.
"British businessmen and investors will hear about all the business opportunities that exist in industrial and commercial sectors of Azerbaijan. The City of London is a global leader in financial services, and it is very suitable for us a place to gather all the leading bankers and businessmen to promote trade and investment between the UK and Azerbaijan," Thomas said in his speech at the opening of the forum.
According to co-chairman of the Britain Azerbaijan Business Council, Lord Gilford Howell, given the opportunities before the British investors today, the future of relations between countries is much broader than the energy issues.
"We hope that the business council between the UK and Azerbaijan, established in London in September last year, will help fill the gaps and develop a higher level of business relations between the two countries," said the co-chairman of the Britain Azerbaijan Business Council, chairman of the International Bank of Azerbaijan, Jahangir Hajiyev, in his speech.
According to him, the visit of the delegation of the Lord Mayor to Baku in July last year significantly contributed to developing these relations. "We hope that you will receive an invitation to visit our capital city and the region again in the future," said Hajiyev.
According to him, the contribution and work of MEA in Azerbaijan became a turning point in strengthening ties, and the contribution of London to the economic success of Azerbaijan is significant and wide.
"We are making efforts aimed at transforming "oil disease" into the "oil welfare" and restoring economic prosperity of our region," said Hajiyev.
The forum was also attended by Azerbaijan's ambassador to Great Britain Fakhraddin Gurbanov.