Contributing to the development of sustainable cooperation among Azerbaijanis living abroad, further strengthening institutional and cultural ties with Azerbaijan, and enhancing the leadership potential and initiative-taking skills of diaspora members are among the priority directions of the country's diaspora policy. The First Forum of Azerbaijani Youth in the United Kingdom, titled “Azerbaijan–UK Youth Forum: Shaping Our Future While Honouring Our Roots,” held at Imperial College London based in London, served precisely these objectives.

The forum gathered Azerbaijani youth from the cities of London, Manchester, Warwick, Oxford, Nottingham, Exeter, and York in England, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh in Scotland, as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland and Cardiff in Wales. This broad geographic representation once again demonstrated the forum’s importance in uniting the younger generation of the Azerbaijani diaspora on a common platform.

The forum was attended by Fuad Muradov, Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Elin Suleymanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Welcoming the participants, the Chairman spoke about Azerbaijan’s diaspora policy, projects implemented in line with the recommendations of the country’s leadership, and efforts aimed at strengthening the unity of Azerbaijanis living abroad. He emphasized the special importance of such forums in reinforcing the solidarity of Azerbaijanis worldwide, promoting youth engagement, and passing national and cultural values on to future generations. He also highlighted the activities of Azerbaijan Houses, the Coordination Councils, weekend Azerbaijani schools, and youth organizations abroad, and provided information on initiatives that support youth networking. In addition, he noted the significant role of the Diaspora Youth Summer Camps, organized annually in various regions of Azerbaijan, including Karabakh, in strengthening ties among Azerbaijani youth from different countries, preserving national identity, and fostering a new generation of leaders.

Huseyn Guliyev, President of the Azerbaijan Society of Imperial College London, Farida Panahova, member of the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in the United Kingdom and Head of the British Azerbaijani Society, and Rashad Khanlarov, Education Adviser at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the United Kingdom, spoke about the significance of the forum, the importance of bringing diaspora youth together, and the opportunities such platforms create for future cooperation.

Following the speeches, a video presentation was screened about Summer Camps of Diaspora Youth, one of the large-scale projects of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

The forum continued with panel discussions.

The first panel, titled “Across Diaspora Generations: Sustainability, Leadership and Legacy – Engaging the Next Generation in Diaspora Activities,” was moderated by Huseyn Guliyev. Salhat Abbasova, Head of Department at the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, as well as experts Faig Israfilov and Nazrin Farziyeva shared their views and experiences regarding intergenerational cooperation in diaspora activities, leadership development, preservation of national and cultural heritage, and enhancing youth participation in diaspora organizations.

The second panel, moderated by Raul Fakhradov, was organized under the title “Inspiring Success: Achievements and Stories of Azerbaijani Youth – Get Inspired and Take Action!” During the discussion, Tofig Hasanov, Khayala Eyvazova, Nurlana Dunyamaliyeva, Teymur Valiyev, and Mazahir Mammadli, who work at leading companies across the United Kingdom, shared their success stories in education, career development, entrepreneurship, and public engagement, encouraging young people to be proactive and realize their potential.

The forum also featured an interactive training session on “Public Speaking” conducted by Nicky Moran. The training provided practical guidance on effective communication, audience engagement, presentation skills, and building confidence in public speaking.

Discussions continued with an extensive exchange of ideas on future cooperation opportunities, joint initiatives, and ways to further strengthen diaspora activities.

The event concluded with expressions of gratitude to the panelists, moderators, and individuals who provided organizational support, while participants were awarded certificates.

During the cultural segment of the forum, Azerbaijani violinist Sabina Rakchiyeva, who lives in London, delighted attendees with her musical performances.

It should be noted that the forum was organized by the British Azerbaijani Society and the Azerbaijani Student Society at Imperial College London with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

Recently, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora has organized a series of forums aimed at networking compatriots working in the same fields and fostering joint initiatives. To date, forums for diaspora youth, doctors, engineers, and scientists have been successfully held both abroad and in Azerbaijan, this initiative has been met with great enthusiasm both in our country and among our compatriots