India-Uzbekistan witnessed a significant intensification in their bilateral relations in recent years based on shared interests ranging from counter-terrorism to trade promotion.
Following these lines, the recent decision by the government to hold the first India-Central Asia Summit will create opportunities for both nations to reinvigorate cooperation on the long-term framework for India-Uzbekistan engagement.
India to hold first India-Central Asia Summit:
In a major push towards its extended neighborhood policy, India will host the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will, be hosting the first of its kind engagement between India and Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) in a virtual format on January 27, 2022.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, during the first India-Central Asia Summit, the leaders are expected to discuss steps to take forward India-Central Asia relations to newer heights. During the high-level meeting, the leaders are expected to discuss the evolving regional security situation in the context of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
Bilateral Trade and Investments:
According to the latest figures provided by the Uzbek Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, total trade turnover between India and Uzbekistan has grown on year on year basis (from 2018-to 2020). Total trade turnover in the year 2020 stands at $442.7mn as against $355.5mn in 2019 and $286.5mn in the year 2018.
Notably, Goods exported to Uzbekistan from India totaled $ 423 million in 2020 compared to $ 330.5 mn in 2019. On the other hand, goods exported to India from Uzbekistan stood at $19.7mn.
The major items of India’s exports include pharmaceutical products, mechanical equipment, vehicle parts, services, optical instruments, and equipment. While, India’s imports from Uzbekistan consist largely of fruit and vegetable products, services, fertilizers, juice products and extracts, and lubricants.
The Bilateral Investment Treaty is under negotiation between both countries.
Security Cooperation:
With common interests ranging from countering terrorism, transnational organized crime, illegal trafficking, and smuggling both sides agreed to further intensify cooperation under the bilateral Intergovernmental Agreement concluded in October 2018 on mutual cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances & more.
As part of the growing cooperation in the security sphere, the Agreement on Security Cooperation was signed between India and Uzbekistan in the year 2019.
High-Level Visits:
Further strengthening the significant cooperation, the two countries have had regular high-level mutual visits.
There has been a significant intensification in bilateral ties between India and Uzbekistan, following PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Tashkent in July 2015 and June 2016.
Later in the year 2018, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited India. During the high-level visit, 17 Agreements/MoUs were signed between both nations.
Speaking of the high-level exchange, a virtual summit between PM Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was held on 11 December 2020. Both sides discussed bilateral issues including in the fields of politics, development cooperation, security, space, education, development projects, and regional issues including Afghanistan.
List of Agreements/MoUs signed coinciding with the Virtual Summit between PM Narendra Modi and President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev:
1. MoU between National Institute of Solar Energy, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India and International Solar Energy Institute, Uzbekistan;
2. Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry for Development of Information Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the area of Digital Technologies;
3. Dollar Credit Line Agreement between Export-Import Bank of India and Govt. of Uzbekistan
4. MoC between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the State unitary enterprise “Cybersecurity center” of Uzbekistan;
5. MoU on High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) between Government of India and Government of Uzbekistan;
6. MoU between Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy of the Republic of India and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
7. MoU between Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of the Republic of India and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on exchange of information on pre-arrival of goods moved across the state border;
8. Agreement on Mutual Recognition of results of products Conformity Assessment between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and The Uzbek Agency for Standardization, Metrology, and Certification (Uzstandart Agency);
9. MoU between Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and the University of Journalism and Mass Communication of Uzbekistan (UJMCU)
Humanitarian Aid:
In a bid to support India in its fight against the pandemic, Uzbekistan sent a gift of 100 oxygen concentrators & other medical supplies to India.
Earlier under the COVAX initiative, India sent 660000 doses of the ‘Made in India’ vaccine to Tashkent in meeting the challenges posed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further strengthening the cooperation, India gifted HCQ, and Paracetamol tablets to Uzbekistan, along with lifting ban on the export of essential medicines to fight Covid-19.
