TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Following high-level discussions in Tashkent, India and Uzbekistan elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made the announcement during Modi’s August 29 to 30 state visit. Their talks included cooperation in trade, investment, transport, digital technology, energy, and critical minerals. The agenda also covered healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, security, and regional issues.
Economic cooperation was a key focus during their discussions. Uzbekistan reported bilateral trade reaching $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 increased seven times in recent years. Currently, each country offers 14 direct flights weekly, and four Indian universities operate within Uzbekistan.
Officials agreed to establish a mechanism at the foreign ministers level to oversee bilateral commitments. A dedicated joint working group will examine non-tariff barriers and investment obstacles. Both parties will consider further steps after completing a feasibility study for a Preferential Trade Agreement. Key sectors identified include energy, metallurgy, electrical engineering, critical minerals, and agriculture, with additional focus on healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry in the economic cooperation plan.
Partnerships across various sectors are reinforced through 11 new agreements
During Modi’s visit, India and Uzbekistan formalized their expanded cooperation through 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These cover areas such as cultural exchanges, higher education, scientific research, environmental protection, and traditional medicine. The agreement package also involves tourism, geology, mineral resources, archival collaboration, and economic dialogue. Furthermore, Gujarat state and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region committed to deepening regional cooperation. Additional agreements focus on diplomatic training and support archaeological conservation efforts at the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
The visit also saw commitments in payments, education, and environmental projects. India pledged $1 million for afforestation and ecological initiatives 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 finalized a commercial agreement involving UPI, allowing Indian UPI applications to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR code for merchant transactions.
Security concerns and multilateral collaboration remain important topics
Discussions between Modi and Mirziyoyev also encompassed defense, counterterrorism, and regional stability. Both leaders condemned terrorism, including cross-border threats, and endorsed stronger measures against financing networks and safe havens. They emphasized the importance of intelligence sharing, law enforcement cooperation, cyber threat mitigation, and combating organized crime. The two nations highlighted their ongoing military engagement, including the Dustlik exercise conducted in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both governments expressed support for expanded coordination through regional and international organizations.
Uzbekistan reaffirmed its backing for India’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council. The two countries also agreed to enhance coordination via the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other multilateral platforms. During the visit, Mirziyoyev awarded Modi the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order, recognized as Uzbekistan’s highest state honor for foreign leaders. Modi extended an invitation to Mirziyoyev to visit India, with arrangements to be finalized through diplomatic channels.