In a speech today before the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan, U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary Paul Dyck announced the opening of a new Commercial Service office at the U.S. Embassy in Baku. The opening of this new office reflects the growing interest on the part of American exporters to reach out to Azerbaijan`s market and opens the door to increased two-way business links between the two nations.

“As Azerbaijan works to continue on its path to market reform, we hope to do our part encourage greater U.S.-Azerbaijan commercial relations, a key element of our strategic partnership,” said Dyck. “It is my pleasure, and distinct honor, to announce that the U.S. Department of Commerce`s Commercial Service will open an office in Baku, Azerbaijan in mid-2009,” he added.

U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne E. Derse welcomed the Commerce Department announcement. “In recent weeks, following the visit of Vice President Cheney, we have seen an across-the-board intensification of our strategic partnership. As the Vice President said, the United States has a ‘deep and abiding’ interest in Azerbaijan, and the U.S.-Azerbaijani relationship has clearly reached a new level.”

Ambassador Derse continued, “We work as partners on a wide range of issues: we collaborate on security, energy matters, democratic and economic reforms, and an expanding number of people to people exchanges. The Placement of a Commercial Counselor here at the Embassy is a natural next step in this relationship. We expect that with the new Commercial Counselor`s help, we will see a steady increase in two-way trade and investment, especially in the non-energy sectors where so many opportunities and Azerbaijan`s long-term future lie.”

In announcing the new office via a separate Washington DC news release, the U.S. Commerce Department drew attention to Azerbaijan`s substantial export opportunities, noting that the country is expected to receive more than $250 billion in export revenues through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The commerce Department release cited the recently published World Bank “Doing Business Report,” which ranked Azerbaijan as the world`s top reformer. That 2007-2008 report moved Azerbaijan from its previous ranking of 97th to 33rd in overall ease in doing business.

The U.S. Commercial Service offers export assistance in more than 100 U.S. cities and 76 countries. Its expansion will help U.S. exporters reach developing markets throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. In addition to trade promotion, services at the new Baku office will include counseling, business and customized market research.