India, Uzbekistan Strengthen Strategic Partnership with Focus on Critical Minerals, Trade and Regional Cooperation
India and Uzbekistan have agreed to deepen their strategic partnership by expanding cooperation across critical sectors, including mining, critical minerals, trade, energy, infrastructure, defence and education, following high-level bilateral talks held in New Delhi on Monday.
The discussions took place during the four-day official visit of Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, who held delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. The meeting reviewed the progress of bilateral relations and identified new opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two countries.
Jaishankar Highlights Growing Strategic Partnership
Welcoming the visiting delegation, Dr. Jaishankar described Uzbekistan as an important part of India’s “extended neighbourhood” and emphasized the centuries-old historical, cultural and civilisational links shared by the two nations.
He said India-Uzbekistan relations have steadily broadened in recent years and now span multiple sectors, including construction, digital technology, healthcare, energy and education. The two sides agreed that the partnership should now move into new strategic areas that can further strengthen long-term economic cooperation.
Critical Minerals and Mining Take Centre Stage
A major focus of the discussions was cooperation in the mining sector, particularly the exploration and development of critical minerals and rare earth resources. Both countries acknowledged the growing importance of securing reliable mineral supply chains for future industrial and technological development.
Dr. Jaishankar expressed confidence that collaboration in this sector would complement existing economic ties and open new avenues for investment and industrial partnerships.
Trade Expected to Grow Beyond Current Levels
Referring to bilateral trade, the External Affairs Minister noted that commerce between India and Uzbekistan is currently valued at nearly US$1 billion. He said both governments are optimistic that trade and investment flows will expand significantly in the coming years through stronger business engagement and economic cooperation.
The ministers also carried out a comprehensive review of cooperation in several priority sectors, including:
- Critical minerals and mining
- Trade and investment
- Energy cooperation
- Infrastructure development
- Defence collaboration
- Education and cultural exchanges
India and Uzbekistan Discuss Regional Security and Multilateral Cooperation
Beyond bilateral economic ties, the two foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional developments and explored ways to strengthen cooperation through multilateral platforms.
Dr. S. Jaishankar said India and Uzbekistan continue to share similar positions on several key foreign policy and security issues, particularly terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. He appreciated Uzbekistan’s consistent stand against terrorism and said both countries remain committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, including cross-border terrorism and terror safe havens.
The discussions also covered cooperation in international forums, reflecting the growing strategic alignment between New Delhi and Tashkent on regional and global issues.
India Thanks Uzbekistan for Support During BRICS Presidency
During the meeting, Dr. Jaishankar thanked Uzbekistan for backing India’s initiatives during its 2026 BRICS Presidency. He also conveyed India’s support for Uzbekistan’s candidature to chair the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) for the 2027–2029 term.
The exchange highlighted the importance both countries place on strengthening collaboration in international organisations and promoting shared priorities through multilateral engagement.
President Droupadi Murmu Meets Uzbek Foreign Minister
Earlier in the day, Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Murmu underlined the deep historical relationship between India and Uzbekistan and said the minister’s visit provides an opportunity to identify fresh areas of cooperation while further strengthening the strategic partnership.
She pointed to significant opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as:
- Mining and rare earth minerals
- Agriculture
- Pharmaceuticals
- Information Technology
The President said expanding cooperation in these sectors would further enhance economic engagement and contribute to long-term bilateral growth.
Educational Exchanges Continue to Strengthen Bilateral Relations
President Droupadi Murmu also highlighted the growing people-to-people connections between India and Uzbekistan, particularly in the field of education. She noted that educational cooperation has become an important pillar of the bilateral relationship, helping strengthen professional and cultural ties between the two countries.
According to the President, more than 3,000 Uzbek officials, professionals and students have benefited from India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and various scholarship initiatives over the years.
She also pointed out that over 16,000 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education in Uzbekistan, reflecting the expanding academic partnership between the two nations.
Business Forum Aims to Boost Investment and Commercial Ties
As part of his official visit, Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov participated in the India-Uzbekistan Business Forum, which focused on expanding commercial cooperation and encouraging greater investment between businesses from both countries.
The forum brought together stakeholders from government and industry to explore new opportunities for trade, investment and long-term economic collaboration. It also complemented the broader objective of strengthening the strategic partnership through increased private-sector engagement.
Key Outcomes of the High-Level Talks
| Area | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Strategic Partnership | Comprehensive review and commitment to expand bilateral cooperation |
| Critical Minerals | Focus on mining and rare earth resources |
| Trade | Efforts to increase bilateral trade beyond the current US$1 billion |
| Regional Security | Shared commitment against terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking |
| Multilateral Cooperation | Discussion on BRICS, NAM and other international forums |
| Education | Expansion of academic exchanges and capacity-building programmes |
| Business Engagement | India-Uzbekistan Business Forum to promote investment and trade |
The meetings in New Delhi reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to broadening cooperation across strategic, economic, educational and regional security sectors, with leaders expressing confidence that India-Uzbekistan relations will continue to deepen in the years ahead.
Source: DD India (with agency inputs)
