India, Uzbekistan Strike Long-Term Uranium Deal As PM Modi Wraps Key Visit - NDTV

**India, Uzbekistan Sign Long‑Term Uranium Supply Deal as PM Modi Concludes State Visit**

New Delhi and Tashkent announced a landmark agreement on Thursday that will see Uzbekistan become a long‑term supplier of uranium to India. The pact, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two‑day visit, is expected to bolster India’s civilian nuclear programme and diversify its fuel sources beyond the traditional suppliers of Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia. While the exact volume and duration of the supply have not been disclosed, both governments described the arrangement as “strategic” and “mutually beneficial,” signalling deeper energy cooperation between the two countries.

The bilateral talks, which also covered trade, digital connectivity, defence and other key sectors, resulted in a series of memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding economic ties. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy highlighted plans to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion within the next five years, while Indian officials emphasized joint projects in information‑technology infrastructure and the establishment of a digital corridor linking the two economies. In the defence arena, the two sides agreed to explore joint exercises and the possible sharing of expertise in missile‑defence and aerospace technologies.

In a symbolic gesture, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev conferred Uzbekistan’s highest civilian honour, the **Order of Oliy Darajali Dustlik**, on Prime Minister Modi, underscoring the growing strategic partnership. Both leaders expressed optimism that the uranium deal, coupled with broader cooperation, would reinforce regional stability and support India’s goal of achieving self‑reliance in nuclear fuel. The agreement arrives as India seeks to secure a reliable supply chain for its expanding nuclear power capacity, which is slated to add several gigawatts of capacity by 2030.