TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – The governments of India and Uzbekistan have elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership following high-level discussions held in Tashkent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced this enhancement during Modi’s state visit from August 29 to 30. Their dialogue encompassed collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, transport, digital innovation, energy, and critical minerals. They also discussed sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, security, and regional issues.
Trade and economic cooperation took center stage in the discussions. Uzbekistan reported bilateral trade reaching $1.3 billion in 2025, reflecting a 33% annual growth. Both nations have set a target of increasing trade to $5 billion by 2030. The number of joint ventures has grown sevenfold in recent years. Currently, there are 14 direct flights each week between the countries, and four Indian universities operate in Uzbekistan.
Agreements were made to establish a mechanism at the foreign ministers level to oversee bilateral commitments. A dedicated joint working group will focus on tackling non-tariff barriers and investment challenges. Both nations also agreed to reassess steps after completing a feasibility study for a Preferential Trade Agreement, with key sectors including energy, metallurgy, electrical engineering, critical minerals, and agriculture. Additional areas on the economic agenda include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry.
Partnerships expand across multiple sectors with new accords
During the visit, India and Uzbekistan signed 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These cover cultural exchanges, higher education, scientific research, environmental initiatives, and traditional medicine. Further agreements address tourism, geology, mineral resources, archival cooperation, and economic dialogue. The states of Gujarat and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region also committed to deepening regional ties. An additional arrangement focuses on diplomatic training, while separate initiatives aim to conserve archaeological sites like Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa, which are Buddhist heritage sites.
The visit also resulted in declarations related to payments, education, and environmental cooperation. India pledged $1 million toward afforestation and ecological projects in the Aral Sea region. It also announced 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri scholarships for Hindi language studies and established a Sanskrit academic chair in Tashkent. NPCI International Payments and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre signed a commercial deal involving UPI, which will enable Indian UPI applications to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR code for merchant transactions.
Security cooperation and multilateral diplomacy also featured in discussions
The leaders discussed defense, counterterrorism, and regional security concerns. Both condemned terrorism, including cross-border acts, and supported stronger measures against financing networks and safe havens. They endorsed expanded cooperation in intelligence sharing, law enforcement, cybersecurity, and tackling organized crime. The continued military engagement was highlighted, including the Dustlik exercise held in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both governments also agreed on enhancing coordination through regional and international organizations.
Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support for India’s bid to become a permanent member of a reformed United Nations Security Council. The two nations committed to increasing 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 leaders. Modi extended an invitation to Mirziyoyev to visit India, with the exact timing to be finalized through diplomatic channels.”