Narendra Modi Prepares to Visit Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi intends to visit Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to reports in Indian media following talks in New Delhi between Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The visit to Kyrgyzstan will coincide with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, while the trip to Uzbekistan will be a standalone bilateral visit.
Saidov, who is visiting the Indian capital, also met with Indian President Droupadi Murmu. He said the sides agreed to begin preparations for the prime minister's upcoming visit to Uzbekistan, which will give momentum to deepening bilateral cooperation. Saidov called India an important strategic and trade partner for Uzbekistan in South Asia.
Trade turnover between the two countries has already exceeded US$1 billion, but the parties expect further growth. Priority areas include expanding market access, attracting investment, and developing business partnerships. Special attention is being paid to new areas of interaction, including the mining industry and rare earth metals, alongside established cooperation in energy, infrastructure, digital technology, healthcare, and education.
Jaishankar reported that discussions covered energy, infrastructure, trade, defense, education, and culture, as well as regional and multilateral agendas.
According to Saidov, the parties also reviewed issues related to strengthening transport and logistics connectivity and implementing previously reached agreements.
President Murmu noted the deep historical, cultural, and civilizational ties between the two countries, rooted in ancient trade routes, and highlighted the potential for cooperation in rare earth metals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.
Defense interaction remains an important component of bilateral relations, with the countries regularly conducting joint military exercises under the name "Dustlik".
More than 3,000 Uzbek specialists, officials, and students have undergone training under Indian programs, while over 16,000 Indian students are receiving higher education in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan also plays a significant role in India's transport projects, particularly within the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the port of Chabahar, serving as a link between South Asia, Central Asia, and the broader Eurasian space.
The parties also agreed on mutual support in the international arena. India supported Uzbekistan's chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement for 2027–2029, while Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Tashkent for supporting India's chairmanship of BRICS.
The upcoming visit will mark Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan, following previous trips in 2015, in 2016 for the SCO summit in Tashkent, and in 2022 for the SCO summit in Samarkand.
Regarding the Kyrgyz portion of the trip, primary attention will be focused on the SCO summit, within the framework of which a series of bilateral meetings is also planned.
Defense cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan includes the training of Kyrgyz military personnel at Indian educational institutions, joint exercises, specialist exchanges, and collaborative research at the Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Bio-Medical Research Centre in Bishkek.
India annually provides about 100 slots for Kyrgyz citizens under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. Modi last visited Kyrgyzstan in 2019, having previously visited in 2015.
The exact dates and detailed program for the visits have not yet been finalized. According to available data, the trip may take place during the final week of August, with the parties planning to finalize the schedule in the coming days.
