Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on February 9, led by Khush Choksy, Senior Vice President, International Member Relations and Senior Vice President, Middle East and Trkiye, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the delegation included Jennifer Miel, Vice President of Middle East, Central Asia, and Trkiye at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with senior representatives from major companies such as Apple, Ardea Energy Technologies Inc., Ericsson AB, ExxonMobil, Herbalife, Illumina, Meta, Visa, Wabtec, Baker Hughes, bp, Boeing Global, Honeywell, J.P. Morgan, Lummus Technology, Marriott, Mastercard, Shell International, Azerbaijan Coca-Cola Bottlers LLC, and Motorola Solutions.
President Aliyev welcomed the delegation, expressing optimism for the new phase in U.S.-Azerbaijan relations. He highlighted the significance of the delegation's visit, particularly ahead of the anticipated visit by the Vice President of the United States, emphasizing the focus on business, investments, and trade relations as key elements of the strategic agenda between the two countries.
Khush Choksy expressed gratitude for the reception and noted the unusual pace at which political relationships have advanced compared to business ties. He underscored the delegation's eagerness to catch up and align more closely with the political progress, attributing this to President Aliyev's leadership.
The discussions covered various sectors represented by the U.S. companies, including energy, technology, food and beverages, and transportation. The delegation expressed their intent to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan and shared insights into their companies' activities and collaborations with the country.
President Aliyev cited the longstanding successful partnership between Azerbaijan and BP, with Mary Streett, bp's Senior Vice President of U.S. Communications and External Affairs, highlighting the positive investment environment and workforce development in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev acknowledged the role of BP in Azerbaijan's transformation since the mid-1990s and the ongoing plans for renewable energy projects.
Cristina Doros, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Visa CISSEE, noted Visa's effective cooperation with local banks over 30 years and the company's projects aimed at developing an advanced and inclusive payment system in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev expressed satisfaction with Visa's cooperation and emphasized the importance of modernizing Azerbaijan's financial sector.
In his concluding remarks, President Aliyev spoke about Azerbaijan's favorable investment climate and its role in Europe's energy security. He expressed enthusiasm for deepening relations with the United States, highlighting Azerbaijan's strategic partnership with American companies in digital transformation and artificial intelligence. President Aliyev also stressed the importance of connectivity projects and the country's stable economic situation, underscoring Azerbaijan's commitment to being an area of cooperation rather than confrontation.