Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Modi’s Central Asia Tour Targets Trade, Security and Connectivity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting two countries in Central Asia.
First, he will go to Uzbekistan to discuss trade, medicines, defence and technology.
India and Uzbekistan also want to make it easier for businesses to trade with each other.
Modi will then travel to Kyrgyzstan for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Leaders there will discuss terrorism, transport routes, energy and regional security.
India wants better transport connections through Iran’s Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Modi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, while a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping has also been discussed.
The trip is meant to strengthen India’s relationships and economic links across Eurasia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uzbekistan from August 29-30 before attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek from August 31 to September 1.
Talks with Uzbekistan will cover trade, investment, defence, digital cooperation, energy security and critical mineral supply chains.
India and Uzbekistan aim to double bilateral trade within three years, while exploring pharmaceutical manufacturing and digital-payment cooperation.
In Kyrgyzstan, Modi will discuss joint projects, healthcare, education and defence cooperation with President Sadyr Zhaparov and attend the World Nomad Games opening.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, India will promote counter-terrorism, sovereign connectivity, energy cooperation and expanded use of the Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and other Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders.
- What
- Modi is making a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan focused on bilateral cooperation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
- When
- The visit runs from August 29 to September 1, with Uzbekistan scheduled for August 29-30 and the Bishkek summit for August 31 to September 1.
- Where
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- Why
- India wants to deepen strategic and economic ties in Central Asia, improve connectivity, strengthen energy and supply-chain security, and cooperate on counter-terrorism.
- Uzbekistan visit
- August 29-30 in Tashkent, including talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
- Kyrgyzstan visit
- August 30 onward in Bishkek, including bilateral talks with President Sadyr Zhaparov.
- Trade target
- India and Uzbekistan have committed to doubling bilateral trade within three years.
- 2025 India-Uzbekistan trade
- Bilateral trade turnover reached $1.3 billion, according to the article.
- SCO summit
- The 26th Council of Heads of State Summit will be held in Bishkek under the theme “25 years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”
- Connectivity projects
- India is advocating integration of Chabahar Port and the 7,200-kilometre International North-South Transport Corridor into Central Asian transport networks.
- Defence exercises
- India and Uzbekistan conduct DUSTLIK, while India and Kyrgyzstan conduct the Khanjar special forces exercise.