BP complained about problems with issuance of visa and work permits to foreign residents

The meeting with representatives of BP-Azerbaijan company (operator of the oil production projects in the country) has taken place in the headquarters of SOCAR.

SOCAR press office reported that nationalization of personnel of the production sharing agreements (PSA) has been discussed at the meeting. The cases when foreign specialists can work in the Azerbaijani projects have been specified. For over 15 years Azerbaijani specialists have been working jointly with their foreign colleagues in the most difficult operations. When the foreign specialist is invited to work in Azerbaijan, the company should justify that there is nobody to perform this work in the country and take measures to replace the personnel and train local specialists.

It was decided at the meeting to jointly select staff for the oil and gas projects, determine criteria of jobs and forecast demand in the personnel.

BP-Azerbaijan Vice President Sue Adlam-Hill said at the meeting that at present Azerbaijani specialists constitute 95% of staff of the company. Azerbaijani citizen Leyla Novruzova will be appointed to her position in the near future. BP company also complained about problems with issuance of visas and work permits to foreign residents.

SOCAR's Vice President Halik Mammadov, Eldar Orujev, chief of SOCAR's Legal Department, Yashar Latifov, SOCAR President's Advisor, BP-Azerbaijan Vice President Sue Adlam-Hill, BP-Azerbaijan Vice President for Finance Yan Suzerland and BP-Azerbaijan Assistant of Senior Lawyer David Grant took part at the meeting.-0-