New Delhi: India and Uzbekistan have agreed to step up cooperation across key sectors, including energy, mining, infrastructure, defence, trade, education and culture, as both countries look to strengthen their long-standing strategic partnership.
The discussions took place during the visit of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, who held wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar said that the two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties and explored ways to expand cooperation in several emerging sectors. He noted that India and Uzbekistan have steadily widened their engagement over the years, covering areas such as construction, digital technology, healthcare, education and energy. EAM added that both countries now want to add mining, particularly critical and rare earth minerals, as a major area of collaboration.
Great to meet my friend @FM_Saidov of Uzbekistan.
Undertook a detailed review of our Strategic Partnership, with particular focus on energy, infrastructure, trade, defence, education & culture.
We also discussed key regional challenges and exchanged views on expanding our… pic.twitter.com/VAWTjoMChz
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 3, 2026
The two ministers also discussed ways to boost trade, which currently stands at around $1 billion. Jaishankar emphasized that the existing volume does not reflect the true potential of the economic relationship and stressed that both governments are committed to increasing bilateral commerce.
Regional developments and cooperation in multilateral forums also figured prominently in the discussions. India expressed support for Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) for the 2027-29 term and appreciated Tashkent’s consistent stand against terrorism. Jaishankar also thanked Uzbekistan for its support as India prepares to host the upcoming BRICS Summit.
Earlier in the day, Saidov met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. During the meeting, both sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade, education, critical minerals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and information technology.
President Murmu highlighted the growing opportunities for collaboration in the mining sector, particularly in rare earth minerals, while emphasising the importance of strengthening economic and technological partnerships.
Mr Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President said that both countries share deep historical, cultural, and civilizational ties, rooted in ancient trade routes. The… pic.twitter.com/NOvIHpE8vq
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 3, 2026
To encourage greater business engagement, an India-Uzbekistan Business Forum was organised alongside the ministerial visit, bringing together companies and stakeholders from both countries to explore new investment and trade opportunities.
People-to-people ties also remain an important pillar of the relationship. More than 3,000 Uzbek officials, professionals and students have benefited from India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training programmes and scholarship initiatives.
At the same time, over 16,000 Indian students are pursuing higher education in Uzbekistan, reflecting growing educational links between the two nations.
