OREANDA-NEWS. December 9, 2011. The delegation led by SOCAR President Mr. Rovnag Abdullayev met with Mr. David Leebron, President of Rice University, one of the top US universities. During the meeting, Mr. Abdullayev gave information about establishment of Baku Higher Petroleum School, offering studies in the English and Azerbaijani languages. As he mentioned, the school is to train high-skilled staff for the petroleum industry, based on advanced technologies and international standards. Therefore, SOCAR representatives started making contacts with high-ranking universities.

Welcoming the guests, President of Rice University Mr. David Leebron spoke about close relations between Azerbaijan and Texas based on oil and gas industry and expressed content in cooperation in this respect, wishing good luck in future business. SOCAR President’s next meeting was held with Houston Mayor Ms. Annise Parker. Mentioning the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries, Mr. Abdullayev pointed out the issue regarding the establishment of Baku Higher Petroleum School.

He said the new school would meet the highest international standards, spoke about advantages of benefiting from US educational system, as well as his meetings with the managers of A&M and Rice universities. Ms. Annise Parker noted the relations established at universities’ level would contribute to the strengthening of ties between the two countries.