Uzbekistan Appoints First Ambassador to Sri Lanka
Uzbekistan has taken a major step towards strengthening its ties with Sri Lanka through the official appointment of its first ambassador to the island nation, as reported by Dunyo.
Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, who is based in Islamabad, formally presented copies of his credentials to Rohan Ambagolla, Chief of State Protocol at Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting marked a historic moment in bilateral relations.
Rohan Ambagolla expressed his sincere appreciation to the Uzbek leadership for this diplomatic milestone, calling it a significant political decision that will give fresh momentum to relations between the two countries. He underlined Sri Lanka’s openness to a new era of engagement and welcomed Uzbekistan’s growing outreach to the Global South, particularly in the areas of food security and regional connectivity, initiatives championed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Sri Lanka Keen to Expand Trade, Education and Tourism Links
During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing economic diplomacy and enhancing cooperation in sectors such as trade, logistics, education and tourism. The Sri Lankan representative voiced confidence that Ambassador Tukhtaev’s presence in Colombo would lay a strong foundation for systematic and effective cooperation.
They agreed that the current level of trade between the two nations remains far below potential. To address this, the parties set a clear objective: increasing bilateral trade volume to $50 mln in the near term.
To reach this target, the two sides discussed practical measures, including the joint development of transport and logistics solutions, and the adoption of digital platforms and IT-based programmes to streamline trade processes. These initiatives are expected to enhance export and import flows and deepen overall economic engagement.
Kursiv also reports that Ukrainian Ambassador Mykola Doroshenko has announced the conclusion of his diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan.
