City of London,
01
June
2015
|
14:50
Europe/London

Lord Mayor Alan Yarrow visits Azerbaijan

Lord Mayor brings business delegation to Azerbaijan to strengthen trade relationships

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Alan Yarrow, will visit Azerbaijan this week to build bilateral ties and strengthen the City of London’s relationship with an important regional partner.

The Lord Mayor of London is a role which has existed for over 800 years. Today the Lord Mayor’s primary function is to act as an ambassador for the City of London and its financial services industry. He will bring with him a delegation of British business leaders keen to engage in the region and develop stronger economic ties.

During his time in the country, the Lord Mayor will meet with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Economy and Industry, and the Governor of the Central Bank. He will also meet with industry representatives to discuss UK professional services and identify ways to co-finance key projects in the non-oil sector.

As part of his visit, the Lord Mayor will attend the Caspian Oil and Gas Show and deliver a statement from the Prime Minister as part of the opening ceremony. Azerbaijan’s oil industry plays an important role in its business relationship to Britain, so the Lord Mayor will also meet with the Executive Director of the State Oil Fund and the President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan to discuss this important area of trade.

Lord Mayor Alan Yarrow
I am delighted to visit Azerbaijan during my year as Lord Mayor. Azerbaijan is one of our important regional partners and there are many ways in which we can help each other to expand trade, drive growth and improve bilateral relations. I hope that my visit, and that of the business delegation, opens doors between the Azerbaijani and British business communities, leading to benefits long after the visit has concluded. There are many opportunities for British companies to work in Azerbaijan, providing advice and expertise in crucial infrastructure, privatisation and refurbishment programmes. I also hope that I am able to support the UK’s efforts in improving the wider business and regulatory climate in Azerbaijan by facilitating dialogue at national and provincial government levels. Our relationship with Azerbaijan is strong, and the potential is there to benefit us both.
Lord Mayor Alan Yarrow

Notes to editors

The companies represented in the business delegation will be: The Law Society of England and Wales, Ashurst LLP, White & Case LLP, Fireland Capital, Michelmores LLP, TheCityUK, DDGI Limited, Deloitte, Willis, and GPW.

The companies speaking at the LSEG business forum will be: White & Case LLP, SWIFT, LSEG, Barclays, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles: (1) we support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of more than £15 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama. (2) We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London. (3) And we also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events, research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach. See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.