Uzbekistan appoints first ambassador to Iceland

Ravshan Usmanov has been appointed as Uzbekistan’s first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Iceland. He presented his credentials to Icelandic President Halla Tomasdottir on February 7, according to the "Dunyo" news agency.  

During their meeting, President Tomasdottir emphasized that appointing an Uzbek ambassador to Iceland for the first time marks a milestone in bilateral relations, reflecting Uzbekistan’s open and pragmatic foreign policy in recent years.  

Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in trade, economy, culture, and tourism. The Icelandic leader highlighted opportunities for collaboration in energy, high technologies, digitalization, fisheries, and environmental protection.  

Usmanov is a graduate of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent State Law University, and the University of Birmingham (UK). He has served in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy sector since 2000, holding various positions in the central office and the country’s embassy in Spain.  

Previously, he headed the Directorate for Cooperation with European Countries and NATO at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to France, Italy, and Portugal. From 2018 to 2023, he was Ambassador to Malaysia and currently serves as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.