India, Uzbekistan upgrade ties to comprehensive strategic partnership; set $5 bn trade target - The Hindu

**India and Uzbekistan Elevate Relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership**

New Delhi and Tashkent have formally upgraded their bilateral relationship to a **Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)** during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two‑day visit to Uzbekistan. The partnership, announced on 30 August 2026, encompasses cooperation across defence, energy, transport, digital technology and cultural exchange. In a ceremony at the Uzbek presidential palace, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev conferred on Modi the nation’s highest civilian award, a gesture described by the Uzbek side as a “grand moment of pride for every Indian.” The award ceremony was followed by a joint tree‑planting event in which the leaders paid tribute to former Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, recalling his historic 1966 visit to Tashkent that helped ease Indo‑Pakistani tensions.

Economic ties were a focal point of the talks, with both sides committing to lift bilateral trade to **US$ 5 billion by 2030**. The target marks a substantial increase from the roughly US$ 1.8 billion recorded in 2023 and reflects a series of new memoranda of understanding covering sectors such as pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, agro‑processing and logistics corridors linking Central Asia with South Asia. Indian officials highlighted the potential of Uzbekistan’s strategic location on the “New Silk Road” and its growing manufacturing base, while Uzbek representatives pointed to India’s market size and expertise in information technology as catalysts for deeper trade integration.

Beyond trade and defence, the CSP sets the stage for expanded people‑to‑people contact. Plans were announced for regular high‑level ministerial dialogues, joint research programmes between Indian and Uzbek universities, and cultural festivals celebrating shared heritage. Both governments also signaled a commitment to collaborate on regional security challenges, including counter‑terrorism and climate‑resilient development. The upgraded partnership is expected to reshape the geopolitical balance in Central Asia, offering India a stronger foothold in the region while providing Uzbekistan with a reliable partner in its drive toward economic diversification.

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