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Prime ministers

Uzbekistan and India Strengthen Strategic Partnership

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As part of his official visit to Uzbekistan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the country's President Islam Karimov, marking a significant event in the sociopolitical lives of the two nations. The visit aimed to consolidate historically established friendly relations between Uzbekistan and India, particularly in the face of global and regional challenges. The two leaders emphasized the need for mutual cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, investment, culture, and security, with a focus on expanding the existing foundation for strategic partnership.

Key Takeaways:

  • Uzbekistan and India have maintained a centuries-old history of friendly relations, with a strong foundation for strategic partnership.
  • The two nations have expanded cooperation in various areas, including trade, economy, investment, culture, and security.
  • The visit of Prime Minister Modi marked a critical new stage in the advancement of bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and India.
  • The two sides exchanged views on the current regional and international issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, and agreed to address the crisis through economic aid and infrastructure projects.
  • Uzbekistan and India have a robust normative foundation for relations, including the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2011.
  • The two countries have strengthened cooperation in the healthcare, air transport, and cultural-humanitarian areas.
  • The partnership has seen a significant increase in mutual trade, with a twofold growth in indicators over the past four years.
  • Uzbekistan is interested in further attracting Indian high-tech companies to implement joint projects in the organization of production of ready-made industrial goods.
  • The two sides signed several bilateral documents, including a joint declaration, a declaration on cooperation in the field of tourism, and a program of cooperation in the cultural sphere for 2015-2017.

Statistics:

  • The mutual trade between Uzbekistan and India has seen a twofold increase within the past four years, with a reported turnover of $315.9 million in 2014.
  • Indian businesses are particularly interested in the opportunities provided by the transcontinental intermodal hub at the airport of the city of Navoi.
  • Uzbekistan is home to 82 enterprises with Indian capital and representative offices of 22 Indian firms and companies.
  • Hindi language courses are taught at the Tashkent Institute of Oriental Studies.
  • The number of Uzbek specialists trained in India under the Indian program of technical and economic assistance exceeds 1,000, with training starting in 1993.
  • Uzbekistan's Academy of Sciences interacts and conducts joint research projects with academic centers in Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.

Sources:

  • Uzbek National News Agency (UzA), "Uzbek-Indian relations: great perspectives," August 18, 2014.
  • Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA), "Uzbek-Indian talks: further expansion of cooperation in trade, economy, and investment," August 18, 2014.
  • Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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