Indian Ambassador: Trade between India and Uzbekistan Grew from $500 Million to $1.3 Billion over Five Years

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 25 February, in Tashkent, India’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Smita Pant held a press conference summarizing bilateral cooperation in 2025 and outlining plans for 2026.

In her address, she highlighted the active engagement at the highest level: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have met almost annually since 2018 through in-person meetings and virtual summits, reflecting strong attention to bilateral relations.

Foreign ministers of both countries also maintain regular contact, discussing regional security and strategic resources.

Parliamentary cooperation has developed through the participation of an Indian delegation, led by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla, at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent. High-level visits further strengthened intergovernmental and interagency ties.

Defense cooperation included joint working group meetings, the “Dostlik” exercises, and discussions on counterterrorism measures, underscoring the strategic importance and stability of bilateral security relations, Ambassador Pant noted.

Cultural and educational exchanges have also expanded. The first women’s film festival, jointly organized with the Uzbekistan Agency for Cinematography, was held in Tashkent in March 2025, with the second planned for March 2026. Additionally, the country hosted international yoga events and conferences, enhancing cultural and educational ties.

Economic and trade relations have demonstrated significant growth: India ranks as Uzbekistan’s ninth-largest trading partner, and bilateral trade has increased from US$500 million to US$1.3 billion over five years, Ambassador Pant emphasized.

Investment activity is also on the rise: the number of Indian enterprises reached 375, and investment in 2025 grew by 135% to US$332 million. More than 200 Indian delegates attended various exhibitions and forums in Uzbekistan, while over 100 Uzbek participants visited Indian business platforms and trade fairs.

In medicine and pharmaceuticals, cooperation has continued to expand, including the opening of a new laboratory at the Republican Allergology Center, mobile medical camps, and over 200 outpatient consultations in various medical fields. In January 2026, a virtual meeting on Ayurveda and traditional medicine was held.

Digital partnership is advancing through a joint working group on IT, educational solutions, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. In February 2026, an Uzbek delegation participated in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The ITEC program covered 1,144 participants, with a focus on training women in AI, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and data science.

In the consular sphere, a record number of Indian students—over 16,000—are studying at Uzbek universities. Around 100,000 Indian tourists visited Uzbekistan, and direct flights between Tashkent and Indian cities are expanding, with new routes planned in 2026.

The ambassador emphasized the spiritual and cultural closeness of the two nations, historical ties through Buddhism, Sufism, and the Mughal Empire, as well as shared culinary traditions. She noted that the India-Uzbekistan partnership spans the economy, culture, science, and technology, creating a solid foundation for further development of bilateral relations.