On April 30, 2025, London hosted the 7th Session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission (JIC) on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. The event brought together high-level representatives from both countries to deepen collaboration across more than 20 economic sectors.

The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Minister of Energy, Mr. Parviz Shahbazov, who reaffirmed the strategic importance that President Ilham Aliyev places on expanding ties with the UK. Highlighting the UK’s longstanding role as Azerbaijan’s largest foreign investor, the Minister noted that British investments have surpassed USD 37 billion.

The session gathered around 30 Azerbaijani government institutions, covering a wide array of topics including regulatory environment, energy transition, economic diversification and infrastructure.

Among the participants of the Commission was Mr. Yasin Jalilov, Deputy Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC). His engagements at the JIC reflected AIC’s growing role in promoting innovation, investment, and international cooperation.

Supporting Vaccine Development & Healthcare Innovation

As part of the commission’s side events, Mr. Jalilov took part in meetings hosted at the UK headquarters of GSK and Randox, global leaders in healthcare. The discussions were focused on advancing vaccination initiatives in Azerbaijan, exploring the localization of vaccine production, establishing regional distribution partnerships.

These conversations were held with participation of the Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Health, State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance, and TABIB, and were also joined by ambassadors from both nations.

Financing the Future: Meeting with UK Export Finance

AIC also engaged in a bilateral meeting with UK Export Finance (UKEF). Discussions centered on unlocking financing opportunities for priority sectors in Azerbaijan, reinforcing the role of UK-Azerbaijan economic collaboration in supporting sustainable development.

Accelerating Carbon Innovation

In a forward-looking meeting, Mr. Jalilov also met with the CEO of “Carbonbit Technologies”, continuing momentum from the Memorandum of Understanding signed at COP29 in Baku. Together, they explored practical scenarios to develop and commercialize carbon technologies in Azerbaijan. Concrete proposals were exchanged to shape the next phase of the partnership.