Nodirjon Turgunov, the new Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the country’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, presented his credentials to OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha.

Accepting the credentials, the OIC Secretary General congratulated Nodirjon Turgunov on taking office and expressed hope for successfully fulfilling his responsible mission.

The parties discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the OIC. Both sides stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation in key areas such as education, youth support, and innovation.

The OIC Secretary General noted Uzbekistan's significant contribution to the development of Islamic civilization, science, and culture, recalling that the country has historically been the center of scientific discoveries and the spiritual legacy of the Islamic world. He also stressed that Uzbekistan continues to play a significant role in strengthening the unity of the Islamic Ummah by promoting initiatives aimed at sustainable development, education, and preservation of cultural legacy, which makes it one of the key partners in implementing the goals of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Nodirjon Turgunov arrived in Riyadh in March 2024 as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia. Previously, he served as Consul General in Jeddah (2021-2024) and worked in various departments of the Consular and Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan since 2016. Mr. Turgunov speaks Arabic and Russian.

Mr. Nodirjon Turgunov replaced Mr. Ulugbek Maksudov, who served as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative to the OIC from 2018 to 2024.

UzA