India, Uzbekistan upgrade ties, agree on uranium deal

India, Uzbekistan upgrade ties, agree on uranium deal

India and Uzbekistan on Sunday decided to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set a target of $5 billion in annual trade by 2030 following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The two sides inked 11 agreements for boosting engagement in several key sectors, including mining and tourism, and agreed to establish a framework for long-term supply of uranium from Uzbekistan to India in line with cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector.

The talks focused on expanding cooperation in areas of trade, investment, infrastructure, critical minerals, mining, defence and security, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, health, information technology, ayurveda, digital public infrastructure, including UPI, and education.

“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,” Mr. Modi said.

“We will move forward by setting concrete goals within this framework,” he said. Mr. Modi said both sides would also elevate their existing joint commission from the level of secretaries to that of ministerial level.

Mr. Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan was determined to boost ties with India in diverse sectors. “We are aiming to advance cooperation in sectors such as energy, culture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, jewellery, and agriculture,” the Uzbek President said. The current volume of bilateral trade between the two nations is over $1 billion.

“Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia and is at the heart of India’s engagement in the region,” Mr. Modi said.