NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India and Uzbekistan have decided to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, setting a target of $5 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. Addressing a joint press meet with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, PM Modi said the two countries share common aspirations and are looking to expand cooperation across trade, technology, defence, energy, infrastructure and other strategic sectors.
“Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia and at the heart of India's engagement with the region,” the Prime Minister said. He noted that 2026 marks 15 years of the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and said the two countries were now looking to give their relationship a broader and more ambitious framework.
“India and Uzbekistan have deep similarities in their thinking and aspirations. Youth, innovation, inclusive growth and modern technology are at the core of both Young Uzbekistan and Developed India 2047. Following this shared vision, we are continuously working for the welfare of the people of both countries. This year marks 15 years of our strategic partnership. On this special occasion, we have decided to elevate our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” PM Modi said.
“Our bilateral trade has crossed $1 billion. Now, we have set a target of $5 billion in trade by 2030,” he added. During delegation-level talks at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace, the PM announced a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies from Uzbekistan.
“We will also establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium. Today, we are formalising three sister-city and sister-state arrangements. We should create a roadmap to fully realise their potential,” PM Modi said. The two sides also discussed cooperation in digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, clean energy, space and nuclear energy.
“We will work together to enhance win-win cooperation in infrastructure development. Collaboration in areas such as digital public infrastructure, AI, critical minerals, clean energy, space, and nuclear energy is making our relationship future-ready,” PM Modi said.
Defence and security PM Modi said defence and security cooperation would be expanded through direct linkages, co-production and co-development between the defence industries of the two countries. “The close defence and security cooperation between our two countries reflects our deep mutual trust. In the future, we will promote direct linkages, co-production, and co-development between the defense industries of both nations,” he said.
PM Modi said India and Uzbekistan shared a commitment to combating terrorism, extremism and separatism. “We believe that terrorism, extremism, and separatism pose serious challenges to the entire region. Maintaining a policy of zero tolerance against these threats has been, and will continue to be, our shared resolve,” he said. The prime minister also highlighted cooperation in agriculture, healthcare and traditional medicine, saying the strengths of the two countries could complement each other.
“By combining Uzbekistan's experience in horticulture with India's modern agricultural practices, we will contribute to the food security of both nations. Uzbekistan's medicinal herbs and India's expertise in Ayurveda form a natural combination,” PM said.
Sister-city, state partnerships PM Modi also announced that India and Uzbekistan would establish three sister-city and sister-state arrangements to expand cooperation beyond the national capitals. “We aim to ensure that our partnership is not limited merely to our national capitals; therefore, we are establishing partnerships between our cities and states,” he said. He also highlighted the potential for cooperation between Uzbekistan's New Tashkent project and India's GIFT City.
“Mega-projects like 'New Tashkent' are underway in your country, while in India, we have developed GIFT City in Gujarat. We would be delighted to welcome a delegation from your country to study best practices and the use of technology in these developments,” PM Modi said.
Mirziyoyev outlines new areas of cooperation Mirziyoyev said the talks had identified several new areas where India and Uzbekistan could expand cooperation, including energy, culture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, jewellery and agriculture. “During our discussions, we identified new areas where we can realize our existing potential. We aim to advance cooperation in sectors such as energy, culture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, and agriculture,” he said.
“We will prepare roadmaps for each of these sectors; specific teams from India will visit here, and our teams will travel to India, enabling us to clearly define our objectives in these fields,” Mirziyoyev added. The Uzbek president said the two countries would continue to coordinate on global issues and support each other at international platforms including the United Nations, BRICS and the Non-Aligned Movement. He also highlighted growing educational and cultural ties, noting that four Indian universities are currently operating in Uzbekistan. Mirziyoyev said a 30-day visa-free regime and efforts to promote direct flights would further boost people-to-people exchanges. “Our partnership has ascended to a new level of quality, emerging as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Mirziyoyev said.
PM Modi receives Uzbekistan's highest honour During his visit, Mirziyoyev conferred Uzbekistan's highest state honour, the Order of “Oliy Darajali Dustlik”, on PM Modi. Calling it a moment of “immense pride”, PM said the award reflected the longstanding friendship between the two countries. “'Dostlik' means friendship. This single word exquisitely captures and expresses the sentiment that lies at the very core of relations between India and Uzbekistan,” PM Modi said. He dedicated the honour to the people of India and the shared heritage of the two countries.
“This honour does not belong to just one individual; it belongs to 1.4 billion people of India,”PM Modi said. “From this historic land of Uzbekistan, I want to reassure the people of Uzbekistan today that India will never step back from its responsibilities. We will honour this friendship in every way,” he added.
‘Uzbekistan loves Yoga!’ The Prime Minister also witnessed a special yoga session in Tashkent featuring 52 practitioners from Uzbekistan. “Uzbekistan loves Yoga!” PM Modi said in a post on X, highlighting the country's participation in the first World Yogasana Championship held in Ahmedabad earlier this year. “Uzbekistan was a proud participant in the first-ever World Yogasana Championship held in Ahmedabad earlier this year. Some of the medalists were also present today. They came back with great memories of India and the Championship,” he said. PM Modi also commended the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan for promoting yoga in the country. The prime minister is on a two-nation visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. From Tashkent, he will travel to Bishkek to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on August 31 and September 1.
