Stourport based Carpets of Kidderminster recently won an order to supply Azerbaijan's Presidential Palace with thousands of square feet of carpet, so Mark Garnier leapt at the opportunity to find out more about the opportunity presented to the local firm.
As part of a group of Conservative candidates, Mark spent three days meeting with various organisations, including the Foreign Ministry, the British Ambassador and representatives from the British business community.
Azerbaijan, whose economy is based almost exclusively around energy production, has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world, achieving up to 30% growth in recent years. This provides a huge opportunity for British businesses seeking to operate in Azerbaijan, or for companies such as Carpets of Kidderminster to take advantage of the local market.
But alongside such success lies potential threats to the UK with regard energy security. Bordered by Russia, Iran and Georgia, the supply of oil and gas to the outside world - including the UK - has security issues and it is important that local political issues are understood in this potentially volatile area.
Speaking after the trip, Mark Said: "Although I have been studying emerging markets for many years, this was my first trip to the Caucuses. As has been demonstrated by Carpets of Kidderminster, there are plenty of opportunities to be had and I look forward to bring Lionel Zetter, who is setting up the Anglo / Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, to come to Wyre Forest to meet with local businesses to explain how they too can exploit new opportunities and markets."