New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Uzbekistan has resulted in a series of significant agreements and announcements aimed at expanding cooperation between India and Uzbekistan across strategic, economic, cultural, educational, environmental and traditional medicine sectors.
A key outcome of the visit was the decision to elevate the India–Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a significant step forward in bilateral relations.
The two countries signed or exchanged several MoUs, agreements and Letters of Intent covering a wide range of areas. These include a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026–30, aimed at strengthening people-to-people and cultural ties between the two nations.
India and Uzbekistan also exchanged a Letter of Intent for the conservation and restoration of the ancient Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa in Termez, Uzbekistan. The initiative seeks to preserve the shared historical and civilisational heritage of the two countries.
Another MoU was signed on cooperation in archival work between the National Archives under India’s Ministry of Culture and Uzbekistan’s Uzarchive, functioning under its Ministry of Justice.
Cooperation will also be expanded in the field of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine, under an MoU between the governments of India and Uzbekistan.
The two sides further agreed to strengthen collaboration in geology and mineral resources through an MoU between India’s Ministry of Mines and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology.
Tourism cooperation will receive a further boost under a Partnership Programme for 2026–28 between India’s Ministry of Tourism and Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee.
An MoU was also concluded between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, Ministry of External Affairs, India, and the Diplomatic Academy at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, to enhance cooperation in diplomatic training and capacity building.
In the financial sector, India’s Ministry of Finance and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance agreed to establish an Economic and Financial Dialogue, providing a platform for deeper economic cooperation and policy discussions.
The two countries also signed an agreement on environmental protection, involving India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change.
Education and research emerged as another important area of cooperation, with an MoU signed between the governments of India and Uzbekistan on higher education and scientific research.
At the sub-national level, the Gujarat state of India and the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan signed a Cooperation Agreement to establish partnership relations and promote greater regional collaboration.
Key Announcements
During the visit, India announced a USD 1 million grant for afforestation efforts in the Aral Sea region, underlining its commitment to environmental restoration and sustainable development.
India also announced 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarships for Hindi language studies, further strengthening linguistic and cultural links between the two countries.
In another cultural and academic initiative, an ICCR Sanskrit Chair will be established at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
A major development in digital payments was the commercial agreement between NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC). The agreement will enable users of Indian UPI apps to scan Uzbekistan’s national UZQR codes and make merchant payments in the country.
Overall, PM Modi’s Uzbekistan visit has opened a broader framework for India–Uzbekistan cooperation, combining strategic ties with practical collaboration in culture, heritage, healthcare, tourism, finance, education, environment, minerals and digital payments.