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 this announcement during Modi’s official visit on August 29 to 30. The leaders examined cooperation across sectors such as trade, investment, transport, digital innovations, energy, and critical minerals. Their dialogue also encompassed areas including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, security, and regional issues.
Trade and economic collaboration played a central role in the discussions between the two nations. Uzbekistan reported that bilateral trade amounted to $1.3 billion in 2025, reflecting a 33% year-on-year growth. The two countries aim to increase trade to $5 billion by 2030. Additionally, the number of joint ventures has increased sevenfold in recent years. Currently, there are 14 direct flights each week connecting the nations, and four Indian universities operate within Uzbekistan.
The officials also agreed to establish a mechanism at the foreign ministers level to oversee bilateral commitments. A dedicated joint working group will focus on non-tariff barriers and investment hurdles. Both sides will evaluate next steps after completing a feasibility study for a Preferential Trade Agreement. Key industries prioritized include energy, metallurgy, electrical engineering, critical minerals, and agriculture. The economic agenda also covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry sectors.
Multiple sectors see expanded cooperation through new agreements
During the visit, India and Uzbekistan signed a total of 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These encompass cultural exchanges, higher education initiatives, scientific research, environmental conservation, and traditional medicine. The agreements further extend to tourism, geology, mineral resources, archival collaboration, and economic dialogue. Additionally, Gujarat state and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region committed to deepening their regional partnership. An agreement concerning diplomatic training was also signed, alongside measures to support archaeological preservation at the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
Furthermore, the visit resulted in several announcements relating to payments, education, and environmental initiatives. India pledged $1 million toward afforestation and ecological projects in the Aral Sea region. It also revealed plans to establish 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri scholarships for Hindi language studies and a Sanskrit academic chair in Tashkent. In the financial sector, NPCI International Payments and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre reached a commercial deal involving UPI, enabling Indian UPI applications to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR code for merchant transactions.
Security cooperation and multilateral engagement remain priorities
Discussions between Modi and Mirziyoyev also focused on defense, counterterrorism, and regional security issues. The leaders condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and emphasized the importance of stronger actions against financing networks and safe havens. They supported enhanced cooperation in intelligence sharing, law enforcement, cyber security, and organized crime prevention. Notably, India and Uzbekistan highlighted their ongoing military cooperation, including the Dustlik exercise held in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both governments also endorsed broader coordination through regional and international organizations.
Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support for India’s bid for permanent membership on a reformed United Nations Security Council. Additionally, the two nations agreed to bolster cooperation via the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other multilateral platforms. During the visit, Mirziyoyev conferred the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order upon Modi, Uzbekistan’s highest state honor for foreign dignitaries. Modi extended an invitation for Mirziyoyev to visit India, with the schedule to be finalized through diplomatic channels.