TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – On Sunday, India and Uzbekistan formalized their bilateral relationship by elevating it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, broadening collaboration across vital economic and security sectors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced this enhancement following discussions at the Kuksaroy Residence in Tashkent. The leaders reviewed a range of areas including trade, investment, transport, digital technology, energy, critical minerals, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and education. Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan took place from August 29 to 30, at the invitation of Mirziyoyev.
A significant part of the talks focused on economic collaboration, with bilateral trade reaching $1.3 billion in 2025—an increase of 33%, as per the Uzbek government. Both nations committed to increasing annual trade to $5 billion by 2030. The number of joint ventures has expanded seven times in recent years. Currently, India and Uzbekistan have 14 direct flights each week, and four Indian universities operate within Uzbekistan’s borders. Leaders emphasized the importance of expanding industrial and commercial ties further.
The two governments agreed to establish a mechanism at the foreign ministers level to oversee the implementation of bilateral agreements and to create a joint working group focused on non-tariff barriers and investment issues. Officials will explore additional steps following a feasibility study for an India-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement. Priority sectors identified by the leaders included energy, electrical engineering, metallurgy, critical minerals, and agriculture, while healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry also featured prominently in their economic dialogues.
Expansion of cooperation across major sectors through agreements
During the state visit, India and Uzbekistan signed 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements covering areas such as culture, higher education, scientific research, environmental protection, traditional medicine, tourism, geology, and mineral resources. The package also encompasses collaboration on archival projects and an economic and financial dialogue. An additional agreement linked Gujarat state with Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region. Both sides approved initiatives for diplomatic training and measures concerning archaeological research and preservation at the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
Further announcements included commitments related to payments, education, and environmental projects. India pledged a $1 million grant to promote afforestation efforts in the Aral Sea region. It also revealed plans to establish 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri scholarships for Hindi language studies and to set up a Sanskrit academic chair in Tashkent. Additionally, NPCI International Payments and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre formalized a commercial agreement involving UPI, which will enable Indian UPI applications to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR system for merchant payments.
Security and multilateral cooperation remain key focuses
Discussions between Modi and Mirziyoyev also addressed issues related to defense, counterterrorism, and regional security cooperation. Both leaders condemned terrorism, including cross-border threats, and emphasized the need for action against financing networks, safe havens, and supporting infrastructure. They expressed support for enhanced collaboration in law enforcement, intelligence sharing, cyber threat mitigation, and organized crime prevention. Their military cooperation continues to be active, with the latest joint Dustlik exercise held in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both nations also reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing engagement through regional and international organizations.
Uzbekistan reiterated its support for India’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council. The two countries agreed to strengthen coordination within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other multilateral forums. During the visit, Mirziyoyev awarded Modi the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order, which Uzbekistan considers its highest state honor for foreign leaders. Modi extended an invitation to Mirziyoyev to visit India, with specific dates to be arranged through diplomatic channels.