Uzbekistan has officially appointed the country’s First Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Sri Lanka. The diplomatic mission in Colombo, with a residence in Islamabad, was led by Alisher Tukhtayev, who presented copies of his credentials to Rohana Ambagolla, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, representatives of Sri Lanka expressed their appreciation for this significant diplomatic decision. According to Rohana Ambagolla, the appointment of the First Ambassador of Uzbekistan indicates a high level of political will and a desire to deepen friendly relations between the two countries. He emphasized that this step will provide a new impetus for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

The parties confirmed their mutual interest in expanding the format of cooperation. The relevance of the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev aimed at rapprochement with the states of the Global South, ensuring food security and strengthening regional connectivity was noted. These proposals were highly appreciated. The representative of Sri Lanka expressed confidence that Alisher Tukhtayev’s work in Colombo will create a solid foundation for systemic cooperation and the promotion of new projects.

Special attention is planned to be paid to priority areas, including trade, logistics, education, and tourism.

The prospects for the development of economic diplomacy were discussed separately. It was recognized that the current volume of mutual trade does not match the existing potential. The parties agreed to take concrete measures to increase this figure to $50 million in the coming years.

Practical steps included the development of effective transportation and logistics solutions, as well as the introduction of online platforms and modern digital tools to enhance export and import operations.

This step by Uzbekistan towards expanding its diplomatic presence in South Asia reflects the country’s growing desire to deepen international cooperation and actively participate in global economic processes.

Aziza Alimova, UzA