Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Adebayo Ogunlesi, the Founding Partner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a prominent infrastructure investment management firm, during a meeting held on December 8.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President Aliyev commended the fruitful partnership between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and Global Infrastructure Partners. He highlighted their joint investments in significant ventures such as the ‘Italo’ high-speed rail operator and London Gatwick Airport, underscoring these as successful instances of collaboration. He further emphasized the critical role of GIP in Azerbaijan’s long-term development strategy.
Adebayo Ogunlesi acknowledged the effective results of their collaboration with SOFAZ, noting that the capital invested in GIP-managed funds has forged a reliable partnership model. He spoke about the company’s vast international experience in areas such as airport management, logistics, transport corridor optimization, and energy, including renewable energy. Ogunlesi expressed interest in expanding collaboration with Azerbaijan in energy transition, transport, and digital infrastructure.
During the meeting, both parties exchanged views on GIP’s ongoing infrastructure projects and discussed emerging trends in the global energy transition. They also explored cooperation on international initiatives involving artificial intelligence technologies.
Global Infrastructure Partners, established in 2006 and acquired by BlackRock in 2024, currently manages assets worth approximately $189 billion. BlackRock, recognized as the world’s largest active asset management company, oversees nearly $14 trillion in assets globally.