India-Uzbekistan Relations
Source: PIB
GS II: Bilateral Relations
Overview
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to deepen their relationship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, covering security, trade and regional cooperation.
- Both sides aim to expand trade and investment, remove trade barriers, develop multimodal connectivity, and strengthen value-chain integration.
- Cooperation will expand in critical minerals, renewable and nuclear energy, AI, digital transformation and space.
- Education, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and Aral Sea ecological rehabilitation form important pillars of bilateral cooperation.
- India and Uzbekistan will strengthen cooperation through the UN, SCO and Global South, with Uzbekistan supporting India’s permanent membership of the UNSC and expressing interest in joining IBCA and ISA.
Why in the News?
Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Uzbekistan at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
News in Brief
- During the visit, both sides reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to further deepen cooperation with the objective of elevating the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- Cooperation is set to expand in critical minerals, renewable energy, nuclear energy, transport connectivity and agricultural value chains.
- Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
Political Parliamentary and Security Cooperation
- Both countries agreed to establish Foreign Ministers led mechanism to coordinate implementation of bilateral agreements.
- The leaders acknowledged the growing parliamentary diplomacy.
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to review and modernise their existing bilateral legal and treaty framework to align it with contemporary priorities.
- Both sides adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and called for coordinated action against terrorist organisations, their financing networks, safe havens and infrastructure.
- They emphasised stronger cooperation in law enforcement, intelligence sharing and countering violent extremism, drug trafficking, organised crime and cyber threats.
- Both countries reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation through the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation through regular exchanges, institutional mechanisms, capacity-building and joint activities.
- The Joint Working Group on Military Cooperation is exploring new avenues of cooperation in the defence industrial sector.
- Both sides welcomed the successful conduct of the India–Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise “Dustlik”, with the latest edition held in Namangan Region, Uzbekistan, in April 2026.
- The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Central Asia–India format and continuing consultations on regional issues.
Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation
- India and Uzbekistan identified significant untapped potential in bilateral trade and investment and agreed to diversify trade by exploring new opportunities.
- Both sides will work to broaden the range of traded goods, remove non-tariff barriers and promote industrial cooperation.
- Cooperation will be strengthened in e-commerce, digitalisation of trade procedures and digital platforms for MSMEs to facilitate bilateral trade.
- India supported Uzbekistan’s WTO accession, while both sides reaffirmed the importance of a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, particularly for developing countries.
- Both countries agreed to strengthen manufacturing and export capacities, promote regulatory dialogue and explore mutual recognition arrangements for greater market access.
- Cooperation will focus on Electrical goods, Engineering products, Automobiles and Pharmaceuticals, along with stronger business-to-business linkages.
- Invest India and Uzbekistan’s Investment Promotion Agency will explore investment opportunities through business forums, roadshows and investment seminars to facilitate two-way investment flows.
- Following the Joint Feasibility Study on an India–Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement, both sides agreed to explore the next steps on a time-bound basis.
Energy, Natural Resources and Supply Chains Cooperation
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to advance cooperation in renewable energy, energy infrastructure modernization and investment projects.
- Cooperation will be explored in geology, mining, nuclear energy, industrial cooperation, and critical and strategic minerals.
- The partnership will cover mineral processing, production of value-added products and recycling, promoting greater value addition.
- Both sides expressed interest in greater participation of Indian companies in Uzbekistan’s mineral deposits and collaboration by Uzbek enterprises in India.
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to expand cooperation in critical minerals through joint projects covering geological exploration, mining, mineral processing and integrated value chains.
- Both sides also expressed interest in expanding cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Agriculture and Food Security Cooperation
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to strengthen cooperation in agricultural value chains, export capabilities and technical capacity in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
- Both sides will promote innovation and resource-efficient technologies to strengthen agricultural productivity and food security.
- Cooperation in agricultural science and research will be expanded, including through multilateral and regional platforms to promote modern and sustainable agriculture.
- Both countries agreed to facilitate bilateral trade in agricultural products.
- Cooperation between research institutions and enterprises will be strengthened to improve agricultural productivity and promote the conservation and sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources.
Transport, Logistics and Connectivity Cooperation
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to strengthen transport and logistics connectivity through the development of multimodal transport routes and logistics corridors for seamless movement of goods.
- Both sides will continue efforts to restore freight transportation with the objective of reducing transportation costs.
- Cooperation will be expanded through technical expertise in advanced road-construction technologies and joint projects for the reconstruction and modernisation of road infrastructure.
- The two countries also agreed to explore environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions for Uzbekistan’s public transport sector.
Digital Technologies, Innovation and Space Cooperation
- India and Uzbekistan agreed to expand cooperation among technology parks, companies, startups and educational institutions.
- The first IT Park in Tashkent, established in 2019, was based on the Indian model with active support from the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
- Both sides will strengthen cooperation in high technologies and digital transformation, including implementation of understandings reached during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
- Cooperation will focus on developing safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems, including exchange of experiences and best practices.
- The partnership aims to leverage AI for sustainable economic growth, innovation-led development, and addressing societal challenges.
- India and Uzbekistan also agreed to expand cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, including space applications, scientific-data exchange, joint workshops and training.
Education, Health, Culture and People-to-people Cooperation
- Indian students and educational exchanges contribute to strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Uzbekistan.
- Both sides agreed to expand India Studies in Uzbekistan and Uzbek Studies in India, along with joint research and academic cooperation.
- Human-resource development cooperation covers medicine, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, nanotechnology and biotechnology.
- Over 2,700 Uzbek nationals have participated in the ITEC Programme, while more than 400 Uzbek students have received ICCR scholarships, including AYUSH scholarships.
- Uzbekistan also welcomed the Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Hindi Language.
Environment and Healthcare
- India and Uzbekistan will cooperate in the greening and ecological rehabilitation of the Aral Sea region.
- India will provide US$1 million, along with technical support, under its Grant-in-Aid framework.
- Cooperation will expand in public health, biomedical research and medical innovation.
- The Tashkent Pharma Park is envisaged as a platform for pharmaceutical manufacturing, investment, technology transfer, production localisation and skilled workforce development.
- Both sides supported the establishment of medical centres, laboratories, research institutions and joint pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises in Uzbekistan with Indian participation.
Culture, Heritage, Sports and Traditional Medicines
- India and Uzbekistan will strengthen cultural cooperation through cultural days, festivals, exhibitions and artistic exchanges.
- The Cultural Exchange Programme 2026–2030 and cooperation in archives were welcomed.
- Both sides will cooperate in the preservation, restoration and promotion of World Heritage sites, including digitalisation and 3D modelling of archaeological artefacts.
- A Letter of Intent covers conservation and restoration of the ancient Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Karatepa.
- Sports cooperation includes badminton, archery and chess, particularly athlete preparation and coach training.
- India and Uzbekistan will promote yoga, including instructor training through the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan and India’s Ministry of AYUSH.
- Both sides also welcomed an MoU on cooperation in traditional medicines.
International Cooperation
- India and Uzbekistan reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations in maintaining global peace and security and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the UN and other international and regional organisations.
- Both sides called for comprehensive UN reforms, including reform of the UN Security Council, to make it more representative, effective and reflective of contemporary global realities.
- Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
- The two countries agreed to strengthen coordination in international forums to advance the common interests of the Global South.
- Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), particularly in regional peace and security, trade, investment and cultural cooperation.
- Uzbekistan expressed interests in joining the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)and International Solar Alliance (ISA), with India indicating readiness to facilitate the necessary accession processes.
Conclusion
India-Uzbekistan relations are evolving into a multidimensional strategic partnership encompassing security, trade, connectivity, critical minerals, technology and people-to-people ties.
Strengthening these areas can deepen India’s engagement with Central Asia and advance shared interests in regional stability and sustainable development.
UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question
Consider the following statements:
- India–Uzbekistan cooperation on critical minerals can contribute to diversification of India’s mineral supply chains.
- Cooperation in multimodal transport routes can help address connectivity constraints between India and Central Asia.
- Uzbekistan’s support for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council represents convergence in multilateral diplomacy.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Mains Practice Question
Q. India’s engagement with Uzbekistan with is increasingly moving beyond traditional diplomatic cooperation towards strategic, economic and technological partnership. Discuss the significance and challenges of deepening India-Uzbekistan relations. (250 words)
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