Jonibek Hikmat

Jonibek Ismoil Hikmat (; born 1982) is a Tajik diplomat serving as the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations since 27 April 2021. He has held various leadership roles within the UN system, including Chairperson of the UNICEF Executive Board (2025) and Chair of the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD). Hikmat has been a career diplomat since 2005 serving in various capacities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and in diplomatic missions in the United States and the United Kingdom, before his appointment as Permanent Representative.

Early life and education

Jonibek Hikmat was born in 1982 in the Tajik SSR, Soviet Union. In 2005 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Banking and Finance from the Eastern Mediterranean University in Northern Cyprus, Turkey. In 2013 he completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Cardiff Metropolitan University through the London School of Commerce, United Kingdom. Hikmat is fluent in Tajik, English, Russian, and Turkish.

Career

Hikmat joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan in 2005. He served as Chief Specialist in the Department of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) from 2005 to 2006. From 2006 to 2008, he worked as an Attaché and Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2008–2009 he served as Third Secretary in the Department of European and American Countries and at the Permanent Mission of Tajikistan to the United Nations in New York. From 2009 to 2010 he was Second Secretary in the Secretariat of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Between 2010 and 2014 Hikmat served as Second Secretary at the Embassy of Tajikistan in the United States and the Embassy of Tajikistan in the United Kingdom. From 2014 to 2016 he served as Deputy Head of the Department of International Organizations and Head of the UN Division. Between 2016 and 2019 he worked at the Permanent Mission of Tajikistan to the UN in New York as First Secretary and Counsellor. On 27 April 2021 Hikmat was appointed as Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations by presidential decree. He presented his credentials to the UN Secretariat on 4 June 2021.

Hikmat has held numerous leadership positions within the UN system:

• Vice-President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (2023–2024).
• Vice-President of the UNICEF Executive Board (2024).
• Vice-President of the UN Women Executive Board (2024).
• Chairperson of the UNICEF Executive Board (2025).
• Chair of the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (2027).

Hikmat has been an advocate for sustainable development, water security, and digital cooperation. He has highlighted Tajikistan's renewable energy potential, noting that 98% of the country's electricity is generated from hydropower. He has called for international cooperation on artificial intelligence governance, introducing a resolution on "Creating new opportunities for sustainable development through artificial intelligence." In March 2026, he signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime on behalf of Tajikistan. In November 2025 he described Tajikistan as aspiring to become a "hub of ideas and innovations" and referred to investment routes as the "New Silk Road."

See also

• Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations
• Foreign relations of Tajikistan
• List of current permanent representatives to the United Nations

External links

• of the Permanent Mission of Tajikistan to the UN

• Official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan