BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.13
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Next year it is the UK’s turn to host both the Strategic Dialogue and Joint Intergovernmental Commission (JIC) with Azerbaijan, UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan, Baroness Emma Nicholson told Trend.
“I will be working with my Ministerial colleagues at the FCDO and DIT and look forward to meeting both sets of delegates and welcome them to the UK. 2022 is also important for both our countries, because we will celebrate 30 years of Azerbaijani-UK relations on 11 March when we will all celebrate our cooperation which has brought prosperity for both countries and deepened our friendship as peoples,” she said.
Baroness Nicholson went on to add that in spite of COVID-19 and the hit to both economies, trade overall has remained stable between the two countries and the economies of both countries are now roaring back to life.
“As we ‘build back better’ in the UK, we seek to be a central part of Azerbaijan’s effort to ‘build back better’ following the pandemic. We look forward to an enhanced future for both of our nations which will be achieved through stronger trade ties,” noted the UK trade envoy.
She believes that one of the main vehicles for enhancing the trade ties is through the Joint Intergovernmental Commission (JIC), which has met on an annual basis since 2016.
“The aim is to tackle together any challenges in our trading relationship and to smooth out any difficulties which may occur. In its 2021 edition, the JIC focused on non-oil and gas issues for the first time. We agreed to further our cooperation in 14 different areas, including in renewable energy, digital services and transformation, and agriculture. These are areas that matter to the people and businesses of Azerbaijan as to the population of the UK, which enables our companies to offer significant support,” added Baroness Nicholson.
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