USAID Administrator and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance Henrietta H. Fore (third from left) meets with President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev (right).

Photo Credit: Presidential Office of Azerbaijan Republic

USAID Administrator and Director of Foreign Assistance Henrietta H. Fore’s first visit to Azerbaijan significantly capitalized on existing strong and effective U.S. Government-host country counterpart relationships. During her three-day visit, Administrator Fore held high impact meetings with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Parliament speaker Ogtay Asadov, and key ministers (Economic Development, Ecology and Natural Resources, Communications and Technologies, and Finance) – all critical to advancing USAID’s socioeconomic and political development assistance programs.

Fore championed synergistic public-private partnership opportunities to both government and key business leaders within Azerbaijan. She also reinforced Aliyev’s message for Azerbaijan to “do more” in the areas of agriculture, anti-corruption, the ecology and environment, IT, and water and sanitation. In the course of their discussions, Fore indicated a willingness to authorize significant USAID staff and programming expansion to leapfrog large-scale developmental efforts.

Fore offered Aliyev continued support to further establish Azerbaijan as a critical member of the Euro-Atlantic community, through the fostering of a diversified economy, strong democratic institutions, and respect for the basic rights and freedoms of its citizens.