Charles Hendry appointed as UK Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan

Prime Minister David Cameron on November 12 announced the appointment of Charles Hendry MP as Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan,Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Speaking about the announcement of eight new Trade Envoys, who will promote trade for UK businesses in selected high-growth and developing markets around the world, the Prime Minister said : "We need to show the world at every opportunity this country's great creativity and dynamism if we are going to win this global race for jobs, trade and investment. That is why I am delighted that some of our great parliamentarians have accepted my invitation to use their experience and know-how to bang the drum for British business."

Following the Prime Minister's address the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, H.E. Peter Bateman, welcomed the appointment of Mr Hendry .

The Ambassador noted that the UK-Azerbaijan business relationship was a real success story, saying, "We are proud of our status as single largest foreign direct investor in Azerbaijan and record of having helped create the growing prosperity that is so very evident in Azerbaijan. It is a relationship that has been of benefit of both countries".

Speaking about Mr Hendry's appointment, the Ambassador said, "The appointment of Mr Hendry will allow us to build on an already successful relationship. Mr Hendry knows the region and in particular  Azerbaijan well having visited the country last year in his capacity as Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. We very much believe that we can build on what we have already achieved together, and not only in oil and gas sector. A number of British companies are already active in sectors such as construction and retail and we hope we can encourage others to get involved in other sectors such as education and IT". 

The Ambassador said he was also keen to see Azerbaijani companies expand into the UK. He emphasised that, "we see this as a two-way street and we hope that Azerbaijani companies and institutions such as SOFAZ will take an interest in the UK market as well".

Charles Hendry is the Conservative MP for Wealden, elected to Parliament in 1992 and again in 2001. In May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and served until 2012. Before being appointed as a Minister, he has served as a party spokesman on trade and Industry and education & skills. -0-