On September 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Adebayo Ogunlesi, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a global infrastructure investment firm operating within BlackRock, one of the world’s leading asset management companies.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the meeting recalled President Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with Adebayo Ogunlesi in Davos in January this year.
The parties highlighted the importance of the memorandum of understanding on long-term cooperation signed in Davos between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), BlackRock and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
The meeting expressed satisfaction with the development of investment cooperation between Azerbaijan and the company. The sides exchanged views on the results achieved and prospects for expanding the partnership.
It was noted that the partnership established between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) already covers specific international investment projects. In this regard, it was noted that the Fund, together with the company, had invested in Italy’s high-speed train operator Italo and London’s Gatwick Airport.
The sides exchanged views on investment opportunities in Azerbaijan’s infrastructure sector, including potential cooperation in digital and transport infrastructure.
The meeting also highlighted the significance of the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, held in Baku under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as the Azerbaijan Infrastructure Investment Dialogue organized within its framework by the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and BlackRock. It was noted that companies managing assets worth $30 trillion participated in these events.
Global Infrastructure Partners has operated as part of BlackRock since 2024. BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management company, manages $15.3 trillion in assets and is a global investment firm specializing in energy, transport, digital infrastructure, water and waste management. Global Infrastructure Partners manages $170 billion in assets. The company is also one of the founding partners of the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, together with BlackRock, Microsoft and MGX.
