Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uzbekistan from 29 to 30 August 2026 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During the state visit, the two leaders held comprehensive talks and issued a joint statement outlining cooperation across defence, trade, energy, technology and culture. The visit marks a significant deepening of India-Uzbekistan relations into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Key Areas of Cooperation
Political and Security Matters: The two countries agreed to establish a Foreign Ministers-led mechanism for coordinating bilateral agreements and initiatives. They condemned terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and committed to strengthening intelligence-sharing and law enforcement cooperation. A Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism will continue its work. The countries also welcomed the Uzbekistan-India Joint Military Exercise “Dustlik”, held most recently in Namangan Region in April 2026.
Trade and Investment: Both nations acknowledged untapped potential in bilateral commerce. They agreed to create a Joint Working Group to address non-tariff barriers and investment obstacles, particularly in electrical items, engineering products, automobiles and pharmaceuticals. The leaders directed their relevant ministries to explore next steps on a Preferential Trade Agreement on a time-bound basis. India supports Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organisation.
Energy and Natural Resources: The countries plan to cooperate in renewable energy, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, critical minerals, and geological exploration. Indian companies are encouraged to participate in mineral development projects in Uzbekistan.
Transport and Technology: The partnership includes developing multimodal transport routes and logistics corridors to reduce shipping costs. In digital areas, both nations will expand cooperation through technology parks, artificial intelligence development, cybersecurity and space exploration. The IT Park established in Tashkent in 2019 based on the Indian model will be further developed.
Agriculture and Education: Cooperation will extend to agricultural value chains, food security, sustainable farming technologies and agricultural research. The leaders welcomed growth in India studies programmes in Uzbekistan and supported expansion of Uzbek studies in India.
What this means for you
Indian companies may find new business opportunities in Uzbekistan across trade, technology and manufacturing sectors. Students interested in research and academic exchanges between the two countries could benefit from expanded programmes. The joint focus on critical minerals and renewable energy suggests India-Uzbekistan cooperation will shape regional supply chains and energy transitions affecting prices and availability of goods for Indian consumers.