TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – On Sunday, India and Uzbekistan elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, broadening collaboration in key economic and security fields. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the announcement following discussions at the Kuksaroy Residence in Tashkent. Their talks covered trade, investment, transport, digital technology, energy, critical minerals, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and education. Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan took place from August 29 to 30, upon Mirziyoyev’s invitation.
A significant part of the discussions focused on economic cooperation. According to the Uzbek government, bilateral trade reached $1.3 billion in 2025, representing a 33% increase. Both nations committed to increasing annual trade to $5 billion by 2030. The number of joint ventures has grown sevenfold in recent years. Currently, India and Uzbekistan operate 14 direct flights each week, and four Indian universities have established campuses in Uzbekistan. The leaders emphasized the importance of expanding industrial and business links further.
An agreement was reached to set up a mechanism at the foreign ministers level to oversee the implementation of bilateral accords. Plans are underway for a joint working group to address non-tariff barriers and investment issues. Officials will explore additional steps after completing a feasibility study for an India-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement. Priority sectors identified include energy, electrical engineering, metallurgy, critical minerals, and agriculture. Discussions also covered healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry as key economic areas.
Expansion of Cooperation Across Multiple Sectors
During the state visit, India and Uzbekistan finalized 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These cover areas such as culture, higher education, scientific research, environmental conservation, traditional medicine, tourism, geology, and mineral resources. The package also includes cooperation on archival work and economic and financial dialogue. Additionally, an agreement was signed linking Gujarat state with Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region. Both parties approved initiatives for diplomatic training and archaeological research, focusing on conservation efforts at the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
Several other announcements followed, involving payments, education, and environmental projects. India pledged a $1 million grant for forestation efforts in the Aral Sea region. 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 formalized a commercial agreement involving UPI, enabling Indian UPI applications to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR system for merchant transactions.
Focus on Security and Multilateral Engagement
Discussions between Modi and Mirziyoyev also concentrated on defense, counterterrorism, and regional security cooperation. Both leaders condemned terrorism, including cross-border acts, and emphasized the need to combat financing networks, safe havens, and supporting infrastructure. They advocated for enhanced cooperation in law enforcement, intelligence sharing, cyber security, and organized crime. Continued military collaboration was also acknowledged, with their latest joint Dustlik military exercise conducted in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both nations expressed support for ongoing engagement within regional and international organizations.
Uzbekistan reaffirmed its backing for India’s bid to secure permanent membership on a reformed United Nations Security Council. Additionally, the two countries agreed to bolster coordination through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other multilateral forums. During the visit, Mirziyoyev awarded Modi the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order, which Uzbekistan describes as its highest state honour for foreign leaders. Modi extended an invitation to Mirziyoyev to visit India, with specific dates to be determined through diplomatic channels.