TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Following high-level discussions in Tashkent, India and Uzbekistan elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 29 to 30 state visit, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the enhancement. The leaders discussed cooperation across sectors such as trade, investment, transport, digital technology, energy, and critical minerals. Their talks also encompassed healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, security, and regional issues.
Economic relations played a key role in their dialogue. Uzbekistan reported bilateral trade reaching $1.3 billion in 2025, representing a 33% year-on-year growth. The two nations aim to increase trade to $5 billion by 2030. The number of joint ventures has expanded sevenfold over recent years. Currently, each country operates 14 direct flights weekly, and four Indian universities have campuses in Uzbekistan.
An agreement was reached to establish a foreign ministers-level mechanism to oversee bilateral commitments. Additionally, a dedicated joint working group will focus on addressing non-tariff measures and investment barriers. Both nations will evaluate further steps after a feasibility study on a Preferential Trade Agreement. Priority sectors include energy, metallurgy, electrical engineering, critical minerals, and agriculture. The economic agenda also covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry.
Cooperation across multiple domains expands through new agreements
During the visit, India and Uzbekistan formalized 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These cover areas such as cultural exchange, higher education, scientific research, environmental conservation, and traditional medicine. Additional focus is placed on tourism, geology, mineral resources, archival cooperation, and economic dialogue. Gujarat state and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region committed to strengthening regional ties. An agreement also facilitates diplomatic training, while separate initiatives support archaeological preservation at the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites.
Announcements related to payments, education, and environmental efforts were also made. India pledged $1 million for afforestation and ecological initiatives in the Aral Sea region. It revealed plans for 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri scholarships for Hindi studies and established a Sanskrit academic chair in Tashkent. A commercial arrangement was reached between NPCI International Payments and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre, involving UPI. This system will enable 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 included defense, counterterrorism, and regional stability. They condemned terrorism, including cross-border threats, and supported more robust action against financing networks and safe havens. Both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in intelligence sharing, law enforcement, cyber security, and organized crime. They acknowledged ongoing military cooperation, such as the Dustlik exercise held in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region in April 2026. Both governments emphasized the importance of 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. The two nations also committed to strengthening collaboration via the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other multilateral platforms. During the visit, Mirziyoyev awarded Modi the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order, which Uzbekistan recognizes as its highest state honour for foreign dignitaries. Modi extended an invitation to Mirziyoyev to visit India, with the timing to be finalized through diplomatic channels.