Uganda Strengthens Central Asian Ties with High-Level Diplomacy at TurkmenTravel 2026
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan — Following its historic debut as the sole African nation at the International Tourism Exhibition and Conference “TurkmenTravel 2026,” Uganda has shifted its focus toward high-level bilateral diplomacy. Day two of the expo was marked by a series of strategic meetings aimed at cementing tourism and cultural partnerships across Central Asia.
Building on the momentum of the exhibition’s opening, the Ugandan delegation engaged in intensive talks with representatives from Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, reinforcing the “Pearl of Africa’s” commitment to global commercial diplomacy.
Expanding the Footprint in Turkmenistan
The day opened with a significant meeting between Mr. Geoffrey Sseremba, Under Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, and Mr. Atageldi Shamyradov, the Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan.
Organized by the Uganda Embassy in Tehran, the discussions focused on:
- Memorandums of Understanding (MoU): Crafting formal frameworks for tourism and cultural exchange.
- B2B Synergy: Establishing direct follow-up engagements between Ugandan and Turkmen tour operators.
- Reciprocal Participation: Uganda extended an official invitation for Turkmenistan to participate in the upcoming Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE).
Forging New Links with Kyrgyzstan
In a further expansion of its regional outreach, the Ugandan team met with the Kyrgyzstan delegation, led by Mr. Ednet Kasimov, Director of Tourism. The talks explored mutual opportunities for tourism collaboration and the potential for a new MoU.
In a gesture of growing international rapport, Kyrgyzstan extended an invitation to Uganda to participate in the World Nomadic Games, highlighting the shared interest in heritage-based tourism.
Deepening Diplomatic and Business Cooperation
The diplomatic effort was further bolstered by Ambassador Twaha Matata, Chargé d’Affaires, who met with Mr. Yazguly Mamedov, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Middle East and Africa.
These discussions transcended traditional tourism, diving into:
- Joint Business Forums: Creating platforms for institutional partnerships and investment.
- Cultural Days: Proposals to host cultural exchange events in both nations.
- Diplomatic Progress: Notable advancement on key MoUs regarding broader diplomatic cooperation.
Tourism as a Diplomatic Tool
Throughout these engagements, Uganda has consistently reaffirmed its strategy of using tourism as a primary vehicle for economic and commercial diplomacy. By leveraging its unique natural assets—from the Source of the Nile to its famous mountain gorillas—Uganda is successfully building “people-to-people” ties and expanding its market access in previously untapped regions.
As the expo continues, the Ugandan delegation remains focused on transforming these high-level discussions into tangible growth for the nation’s tourism sector.
