Uzbekistan delegation visits Mississippi

A delegation from Uzbekistan took some time out of their trip to Mississippi to visit the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.

Uzbekistan and Mississippi have been in the State Partnership Program for seven years. This program pairs states and countries together so they can learn from each other.

Once a year, the Mississippi National Guard sends representatives to the country to learn how they operate.

For just the second time ever, Uzbekistan sent their delegation to visit Mississippi. Uzbekistan Ambassador Javlon Vakhabov said, “Our delegation, our military delegation here in Mississippi, we rely on that military to military cooperation between the state of Mississippi and Uzbekistan can help us build the bridge, the bridge that could make both states much closer.”

The president of Uzbekistan has formally invited Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to visit the country this spring. If Bryant goes, he’ll become the first United States governor to make the trip.