Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 20 /Trend, E.Ostapenko/
Today the trade and investment between the UK and Azerbaijan are developing rapidly, the British State Minister for European Affairs David Lidington said, making a speech at the Azerbaijan University of Languages on Azerbaijan's role in Europe.
British companies, he said, are the largest investors in Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani companies are also investing in the economy of Britain.
The Minister said British companies are the largest investors in Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani companies also invest in the economy of Britain.
"The overall benefit of such a partnership is obvious: in the period when the global withdrawal from the economic crisis is still fragile, so such live economy as Azerbaijani is a kind of engine to development," said Lidington.
This is British State Minister's first visit to Azerbaijan.
"Despite this, I acknowledge that the business and partnership relations between Great Britain and Azerbaijan will last for many years. It is believed that the first British businessman visited Baku 500 years ago. The basis of the emerging cooperation has been trade," said Lidington.
British State Minister for European Affairs David Lidington arrived in Azerbaijan on an official visit on Wednesday. The visit will last until Friday.
The purpose of Lidington's visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation of British and Azerbaijani businessmen.
The State Minister is accompanied by a delegation of British businessmen. During the visit, Lidington is supposed to meet with the heads of leading Azerbaijani enterprises.