Baku: The British Chamber of Commerce Azerbaijan (BCCA) organized a dinner reception on December 11 to mark the first official visit of Lord John Alderdice, the UK Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, to Azerbaijan. The event aimed to foster discussions on the future of economic cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan, with a focus on sustainable finance.
According to Trend News Agency, the event gathered senior officials and business leaders to explore priorities in economic collaboration. Zibar Huseynova, BCCA Executive Director, and Kieran Reddington, BCCA Chairperson, initiated the reception by emphasizing the significance of strong bilateral partnerships and the Chamber’s role in facilitating dialogue between the business communities of the two nations.
Lord Alderdice addressed the attendees, highlighting the evolution of UK-Azerbaijan relations and the country’s economic transformation. He also discussed the importance of sustainable finance in shaping future collaborations. Rustam Tahirov, Director of the Financial Sector Sustainable Development Department at the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan, delivered the keynote speech, outlining Azerbaijan’s efforts to enhance its financial system in line with global sustainability standards.
The reception featured the presentation of the Robin Bennett Award by Ilgar Valiyev, Country Managing Partner at EY Azerbaijan. The award was given to Fergus Auld, British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening UK-Azerbaijan economic relations and his support for the Chamber’s mission.
The event concluded with a networking session, allowing participants to exchange ideas on future cooperation opportunities and the evolving landscape of responsible investment in both markets. BCCA, a key business platform in Azerbaijan, continues to support trade, investment, and economic partnerships between the UK and Azerbaijan through strategic initiatives and dialogue facilitation.