Tashkent, August 30: India and Uzbekistan have elevated their bilateral Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while also agreeing to establish a long-term arrangement for uranium supply from Uzbekistan to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit.
“We are celebrating the 15th anniversary of our strategic partnership. I am delighted that, on this special occasion, we are elevating our ties to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Modi said during his talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent.
Prime Minister appreciated the progress made in the long-term arrangement for supply of Uranium from Uzbekistan to India and reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation in critical minerals.
The two countries set a target of $5 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and agreed to address non-tariff barriers and promote greater economic and investment cooperation. They will also host a Business Summit to deepen commercial ties.
To implement the upgraded partnership, India and Uzbekistan agreed to establish a Foreign Ministers-led Coordination Council. Their existing Inter-Governmental Commission will also be raised to the ministerial level.
The partnership will expand cooperation across key areas including trade and investment, transport connectivity, digital transformation and AI, energy, critical minerals, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defence and security, agriculture, education and space. The two sides also agreed to strengthen defence-industrial cooperation and military exercises.
Critical minerals and mining will form another part of the expanded economic relationship. The joint statement said the two countries would explore cooperation in geology, mining, nuclear energy and critical and strategic minerals, including processing and value-added activities.
The leaders also agreed to deepen transport and logistics connectivity and expand cooperation in digital transformation, including information technology, artificial intelligence, space and cybersecurity.
The visit produced several additional outcomes, including India’s announcement of a $1 million grant for environmental rehabilitation efforts in Uzbekistan’s Aral Sea region. The two sides also concluded a Letter of Intent on restoring and conserving the Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa in Uzbekistan.
The partnership upgrade comes as India and Uzbekistan mark 15 years of their strategic partnership. The two countries said they would deepen political dialogue and practical cooperation under the new framework, including coordination in multilateral forums.
