UK’s ambassador teams up with Azerbaijani official to focus on Nakhchivan’s energy growth

UK’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld and Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Fuad Najafli have recently met to discuss the region's significant energy potential.

In a post shared on X, Ambassador Auld expressed his satisfaction with the productive discussions during his first visit to Nakhchivan, Caliber.Az reports. 

Naxçıvana ilk işgüzar səfərim zamanı @NMR_ARPSN-in Xüsusi Nümayəndəsi Fuad Nəcəfli ilə görüşmək xoş oldu. Naxçıvanın sosial-iqtisadi inkişafı və enerji potensialı ətrafında mövzulara toxunduq. Münasibətlərimiz insan kapitalının inkişafına dəstək vasitəsilə də böyüməyə davam edir. pic.twitter.com/sAyMd0aOFI

— FergusAuldFCDO (@FergusAuldFCDO) April 11, 2025

He mentioned that he was pleased to have met with Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Fuad Najafli and noted that they had discussed key issues related to the socio-economic development and energy potential of the region. 

Ambassador Auld emphasised the growing strength of the cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan, particularly through collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing human capital development. 

The UK and Azerbaijan have recently marked the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Azerbaijan and UK established diplomatic relations on March 11, 1992, following the UK's recognition of Azerbaijan's independence in December 1991. Since then, bilateral ties have developed into a strategic partnership, marked by robust political, economic, and cultural cooperation.

The two nations maintain regular high-level engagements, including the strategic dialogue mechanism initiated in 2016. The most recent round took place in London in June 2023. 

Economic cooperation is the backbone of Azerbaijan-UK relations. The UK is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan, with investments exceeding $34 billion—nearly 50 per cent of all foreign investments in the country. Around 600 British companies operate in Azerbaijan across various sectors. The Azerbaijan-UK Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, established in 2015, held its latest session in Baku in December 2023.

A total of 26 agreements have been signed between Azerbaijan and the UK, covering various areas of cooperation. Overall, Azerbaijan-UK relations continue strengthening across multiple sectors, underpinned by shared strategic interests and growing economic ties.

By Naila Huseynova