BP as the operator of Azerbaijan’s major oil and gas development and transportation projects on behalf of its co-venturers recently awarded a contract to local Debet Uniform Ltd for supply of personal protective equipment in Azerbaijan and Georgia. The contract has been signed for a period of 3 years, with possible extension for additional one year, and is valued at six million US dollars.
To enhance the development of the company, on January 22, 2008 Debet Uniform has received a loan financing from $15 million Suppliers Finance Facility (SFF) established with funds from BP on behalf of its co-venturers, International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and the Micro Finance Bank of Azerbaijan.
The new contract is in line with BP’s and its co-venturers’ efforts to maximize local content in their projects through increasing both the number of companies participating in their contracts, and the value of contracts awarded locally.
Since the establishment of Debet Uniform in 1997, the company has made significant efforts to build a reputation for its quality products and high level customer service. The company manufactures and supplies the quality safety gloves, helmets, work wear, corporate clothing and promotional wear. Currently Debet Uniform employs 117 people.
The professional development of Debet Uniform was possible through the supplier development project launched in 2004 and implemented in partnership with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and BP-operated Enterprise Centre. Since 2006 this project was funded by Regional Development Initiative (RDI), a long term socio-economic development programme funded by BP and its co-venturers in major oil and projects in Azerbaijan. “Success of Debet Uniform is the positive result of our enterprise development strategy, which is designed to ensure that our development efforts lead to high professional standards and capability building among local economic players," says Ibrahim Ismayilov, RDI Manager in Azerbaijan.
“We believe that the contract with BP will allow us, in a short period of time, open a lot of new work places. Our quality management, health, safety and environmental systems are constantly developing, and the contract with BP will encourage this process to reach higher levels. We appreciate support and contribution made by the Enterprise Centre (EC) towards the development of our company and we believe that this cooperation will continue to play a significant role in our future business development,” says Asad Nasrullayev, General Director of Debet Uniform.
“We are committed to developing sustainable local businesses, which will benefit the growing Azerbaijan economy,” says Bill Schrader, President BP Azerbaijan. “This is a great example of combination of local suppliers’ passion to achieve success in getting international expertise and BP’s effort to support them in doing so.”
“Enterprise Centre took an active focused approach in the development of Debet Uniform to ensure that the company is provided with the tools necessary to develop technical and business skills and attain the international standards necessary to compete for supply contracts in the oil and gas industry,” says Samir Taghiyev, EC Manager. “We will continue our support to make sure that the knowledge and skills they have received are maintained in future.”
Notes to Editors:
About BP
BP as the operator of Azerbaijan’s major oil and gas development and transportation projects on behalf of its partners has set an ambitious new target to double the value of contracts placed with Azerbaijan-owned companies by 2010. To reach this target, BP and its co-venturers have opened the Enterprise Centre in Baku to support local companies and encourage their participation in BP projects. BP and its co-venturers are also funding the Supplier Finance Facility (SFF), an important initiative in support of local enterprise development. The SFF is a joint credit facility established by BP on behalf of its co-venturers, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Micro Finance Bank of Azerbaijan, and is designed to give greater access to finance to Azerbaijan's local oil and gas industry supplier and service enterprises.
BP also sponsors the Best of Business local enterprise awards as part of our encouragement of local business development. The awards recognise outstanding local and international companies and business personalities whose entrepreneurial skills contribute to the success of BP-operated oil and gas projects and make a lasting impact on the local business environment.
Tamam Bayatly, BP Baku Press office, telephone: +994 12 599 4557