TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Following high-level negotiations in Tashkent, India and Uzbekistan have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced this enhancement during Modi’s state visit on August 29 to 30. They discussed collaboration across sectors such as trade, investment, transport, digital tech, energy, and critical minerals. Their talks also encompassed healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, security, and regional issues.
Economic relations took center stage in their conversations. Uzbekistan reported bilateral trade hitting $1.3 billion in 2025, reflecting a 33% yearly growth. Both nations aim to increase trade to $5 billion by 2030. The number of joint ventures has surged sevenfold recently. Currently, there are 14 direct flights per week between the two countries, and four Indian universities operate within Uzbekistan.
Officials agreed to establish a foreign ministers-level mechanism to oversee bilateral commitments, while a separate joint working group will address non-tariff barriers and investment challenges. Both nations will revisit further steps after completing a feasibility study for a Preferential Trade Agreement, focusing on industries like energy, metallurgy, electrical engineering, critical minerals, and agriculture. The economic agenda also includes healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry sectors.
Expansion of cooperation across diverse sectors through new agreements
During the visit, India and Uzbekistan signed 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These cover areas such as cultural exchanges, higher education, scientific research, environmental conservation, and traditional medicine. Additional agreements focus on tourism, geology, mineral resources, archival cooperation, and economic dialogue. The Gujarat state and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region committed to deepening regional collaboration. An arrangement was also made for diplomatic training, alongside initiatives supporting archaeological preservation at the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
The discussions also resulted in announcements related to payments, education, and environmental efforts. India pledged $1 million for afforestation and ecological projects in the Aral Sea area. It also introduced 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 finalized a commercial UPI agreement, enabling Indian UPI applications to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR code for merchant transactions.
Focus on security, defense, and multilateral cooperation remains key
Discussions between Modi and Mirziyoyev included topics related to defense, counterterrorism, and regional security. Both leaders condemned terrorism, including cross-border threats, and supported intensified efforts against financial networks and safe havens. They also agreed to enhance intelligence sharing, law enforcement cooperation, cyber security, and measures against organized crime. India and Uzbekistan acknowledged their ongoing military collaborations, including the Dustlik exercise held in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both governments expressed support for increased coordination through regional and international institutions.
Uzbekistan reaffirmed backing for India’s bid to obtain permanent membership in a reformed United Nations Security Council. Additionally, the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other multilateral platforms. During the visit, Mirziyoyev bestowed the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order upon Modi, recognizing it as Uzbekistan’s highest state honor for foreign dignitaries. Modi responded by inviting Mirziyoyev to visit India, with the specific timing to be finalized through diplomatic channels.