President of Uzbekistan discusses plans to expand cooperation with SOCAR and British Petroleum

On May 13, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the head of the Azerbaijani company SOCAR Rovshan Najaf, as well as senior executives of British Petroleum, Ariel Flores and Giovanni Cristofoli, who arrived in Uzbekistan to participate in the Uzbekistan Energy Week – 2026 forum.

Issues related to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with these companies, among the leaders in the energy and oil and gas industries, were discussed.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the successful development of cooperation in the energy sector. SOCAR is Uzbekistan’s partner in implementing the project for the development of hydrocarbon fields on the Ustyurt Plateau. The sides agreed to open a SOCAR representative office in Uzbekistan. The participation of British Petroleum in this large-scale project was highly praised.

The importance of advancing joint projects in the oil and gas sector, including the exploration, production, and deep processing of hydrocarbon raw materials, the establishment of long-term supplies of oil and petroleum products, as well as the training of industry personnel, was emphasized.

Rovshan Najaf, who also serves as Chairman of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, expressed gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for his support in the joint preparations to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in 2027.