TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – On Sunday, India and Uzbekistan upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, broadening collaboration in key economic and security domains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the announcement following discussions at the Kuksaroy Residence in Tashkent. The leaders evaluated trade, investment, transport, digital innovation, energy, critical minerals, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and education. Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 was at Mirziyoyev’s invitation.
Trade and economic ties were a central focus of the talks. According to the Uzbek government, bilateral trade hit $1.3 billion in 2025, marking a 33% increase. Both nations aim to boost annual trade to $5 billion by 2030. The number of joint ventures has grown sevenfold recently. Currently, India and Uzbekistan each operate 14 direct flights weekly, and four Indian universities are active in Uzbekistan. The leaders emphasized the importance of expanding industrial and commercial cooperation.
The two governments agreed to create a foreign ministers-led mechanism to oversee the implementation of bilateral agreements. They also plan to establish a joint working group to address non-tariff barriers and investment hurdles. Following a feasibility study for an India-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement, officials will explore further steps. The leaders highlighted energy, electrical engineering, metallurgy, critical minerals, and agriculture as priority sectors, with discussions also covering healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry industries.
Agreements foster multi-sector cooperation
During the state visit, India and Uzbekistan signed 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements, addressing areas including culture, higher education, scientific research, environmental protection, traditional medicine, tourism, geology, and mineral resources. The package also involves cooperation on archival projects and economic and financial dialogue. An additional agreement connects Gujarat state with Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region, and both sides approved measures to enhance diplomatic training, archaeological research, and preservation efforts at the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
The visit also saw the announcement of several initiatives related to payments, education, and environmental projects. India pledged a $1 million grant for afforestation efforts in the Aral Sea region. It also revealed 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri scholarships for Hindi language studies and a Sanskrit academic chair in Tashkent. NPCI International Payments and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre signed a commercial deal involving UPI, enabling Indian UPI applications to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR system for merchant payments.
Focus on security and multilateral engagement remains paramount
Modi and Mirziyoyev discussed defense, counterterrorism, and regional security cooperation. Both leaders condemned terrorism, including cross-border threats, and called for actions against financing networks, safe havens, and infrastructure supporting terrorists. They endorsed increased collaboration in law enforcement, intelligence sharing, cyber threats, and organized crime. The ongoing military cooperation was also highlighted, with their latest joint Dustlik exercise conducted in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both nations support continuous engagement through regional and international platforms.
Uzbekistan reaffirmed its backing for India’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council. The two nations agreed to deepen coordination within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other multilateral forums. During the visit, Mirziyoyev awarded Modi the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order, Uzbekistan’s highest state honor for foreign dignitaries. Modi extended an invitation to Mirziyoyev to visit India, with dates to be finalized via diplomatic channels.