On 3 June 2024, Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, met with the President of SOCAR, Mr. Rovshan Najif, on the margins of the Baku Energy Forum.

SOCAR, an integrated energy company headquartered in Baku with operations in more than 20 countries, is a long-standing member of the Industry Advisory Panel (IAP), a consultive advisory body to the Energy Charter Conference which provides policy advice from energy companies, international business associations and financial institutions on energy investment and the functioning of energy markets.  The parties discussed the potential cooperation going forward, particularly in view of SOCAR Green, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOCAR established in 2024 to drive the implementation of clean energy initiatives, including large-scale solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects.

Separately, Ms. Hirose also met with Ms. Maryam Rashed Al Mazrouei, Head of Business Development (CIS) of MASDAR, which is working with SOCAR Green to further the transition to clean energy in Azerbaijan, and discussed potential cooperation with the Secretariat.