BABC Leads Education Delegation to Baku

LONDON, May 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Ex Education Minister Charles Clarke and former Minister of State Baroness Symons travel to Baku to meet Azerbaijan Minister of Education

The Britain Azerbaijan Business Council ("BABC") announces the successful completion of its first education delegation to Baku, Azerbaijan. The British delegation led by former Education Minister and World Education Founder Charles Clarke, and the former Minister of State and Co-Chair of the BABC, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean spent two days in Baku meeting the Minister for Education Mikayil Jabbarov, the Deputy Minister of Education, Jeyhun Bayramov and other key members from the Ministry. The delegation was arranged by BABC and supported by the International Bank of Azerbaijan to further identify opportunities for Britain and Azerbaijan to build ties and explore opportunities to collaborate in the important sphere of education.

Supporting Charles Clarke and Baroness Symons were five British experts from various categories of education ranging from primary, secondary and tertiary through to vocational training, teacher training and quality controls.

Whilst in Baku the delegation also attended an Education conference hosted by The British Council and supported by BABC, Education UK and the International Bank of Azerbaijan. The education conference was hosted to specifically showcase British Academic institutions with a view to encouraging Azerbaijani students to study in the UK.

Commenting on the trip, Charles Clarke said, "The visit to Azerbaijan was very successful. We had excellent discussions with the Minister and Deputy Minister and their colleagues, whom I'd like to thank for their hospitality. And it was also a pleasure to participate in the valuable British Council's Education UK exhibition, sponsored by the BABC. It has been exciting to explore the opportunities where Britain might be able to share its educational experiences with Azerbaijan. I hope that this will lead to increased and mutually beneficial co-operation in the future and that the dialogue can continue."

Azerbaijan's Minister of Education, Mikayil Jabbarov commented, "I'd like to thank Charles Clarke, Baroness Symons, the extended delegation and the BABC for visiting Baku and spending time with me and the Ministry. As a country we are keen to study the best educational practices from around the world and to do this, these open and candid discussions are imperative."

About BABC 

Since its formal launch in 2009‚ the BABC has worked to deepen and diversity trade, investment and exchange between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan through the promotion of each country's business activities. The Council assists and co-operates with the private sector, governmental agencies‚ trade associations and bodies concerned with business activities across multiple sectors.

The BABC works to foster high-level relationships and understanding between the private and public sectors in Azerbaijan and the UK to enshrine the legacy of British contributions to the region's economic development and integration into global markets.

Amongst its activities, the BABC has coordinated a series of successful‚ high quality and respected events‚ including the prestigious Caspian Corridor Conference 2012 and 2014. BABC events attract notable participants across business, government, media and academia, and serves to elevate the dialogue on Azeri-British business relations between key stakeholders.

About IBA 

The International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) is the largest bank and financial services group in Azerbaijan and the region with assets of US$10 billion. IBA serves as a National Development Bank supporting the stability of Azerbaijan's banking system, the socio-economic development of the country and its integration into the global economy. IBA is also a universal bank with a full range of financial products and services via its national franchise, subsidiary banks in Russia and Georgia, and international representative offices in London, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Dubai and New York. IBA offers state-of-the-art banking services to Azerbaijani consumers and the most secure banking facilities for Azerbaijan's leading global corporate and institutional customers. http://www.ibar.az

Contacts 

Lyndsay Howard, Executive Director, Britain Azerbaijan Business Council (BABC) at Asia House
Tel: +44(0)20-7307-5454
Email: lh@britainazerbaijan.org

John Evans, Director, Director, Hawthorn Advisers
Tel: +44(0)20-7592-0896
Email: johnevans@hawthornlondon.com