Archive · 31 Aug 2026
India, Uzbekistan Elevate Ties, Target $5 Billion Trade by 2030
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent.
The two countries agreed to make their relationship a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
They want annual trade between them to exceed $5 billion by 2030.
They also plan to cooperate more on technology, energy, space and important minerals.
Uzbekistan is preparing to introduce India’s UPI digital payment system.
The countries discussed a long-term uranium supply arrangement, but the official account said it was close to signing rather than already finalized.
They signed agreements on mining, traditional medicine, environmental protection and diplomatic training.
India and Uzbekistan also agreed to help restore ancient Buddhist sites in Termez.
The BJP described the visit as historic and emphasized its strategic and cultural importance.
India and Uzbekistan elevated relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership after talks in Tashkent.
The countries set a goal of raising annual bilateral trade to more than $5 billion by 2030.
Cooperation will expand across infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy and space.
Uzbekistan will roll out India’s Unified Payments Interface to support cross-border digital transactions.
Eleven agreements and initiatives covered mining, traditional medicine, environmental protection, diplomatic training and Buddhist-site restoration.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, with agreements involving the governments of India and Uzbekistan.
- What
- India and Uzbekistan elevated their ties and announced cooperation plans and agreements involving trade, technology, mining, payments, energy, culture, health, diplomacy and the environment.
- When
- The talks took place on Sunday; Modi’s state visit to Uzbekistan was held from August 29 to 30.
- Where
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan; the Buddhist sites covered by the restoration plan are in Termez, Uzbekistan.
- Why
- To deepen the bilateral relationship, expand trade, strengthen strategic-sector cooperation and improve connectivity, market access, banking and payments.
BJP’s Assessment
Official Account
Uranium agreement status
BJP’s Assessment
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi described the visit as historic and said Modi had entered a historic agreement for uranium supply and continuity supporting India’s nuclear-energy needs.
Official Account
The Ministry of External Affairs said discussions on a long-term uranium supply arrangement were positive and that the two sides were close to signing an agreement, indicating it had not yet been finalized.
Meaning of the visit
BJP’s Assessment
The BJP emphasized the visit’s importance for India’s future energy requirements, strategic interests, trade, critical minerals and cultural ties.
Official Account
The official outcomes highlighted the upgraded partnership and planned cooperation across trade, infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, energy, space, payments and other sectors.
- Relationship status
- India and Uzbekistan elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- Trade target
- The countries aim to increase annual bilateral trade to more than $5 billion by 2030.
- Uranium arrangement
- The sides held positive discussions on a long-term uranium supply arrangement; the Ministry of External Affairs said they were close to signing it.
- Digital payments
- Uzbekistan will roll out India’s Unified Payments Interface, or UPI.
- Mining agreement
- An MoU covers geology, mineral resources, critical minerals and uranium supply.
- Cultural preservation
- A letter of intent covers conservation and restoration of the Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites in Termez.
- Other cooperation
- Agreements also cover traditional medicine, diplomatic training and environmental protection.
- Cultural education
- India arranged 100 Hindi scholarships named for Lal Bahadur Shastri and established an ICCR Sanskrit Chair at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
