NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, with Central Asia’s strategic and economic importance high on India’s agenda. He will begin the trip in Tashkent, where he is expected to hold talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on strengthening bilateral ties.The discussions will cover a broad range of areas, including trade and investment, critical minerals, defence, healthcare, energy, digital connectivity, education and technology.India and Uzbekistan are also expected to explore new opportunities in pharmaceuticals, space and business-to-business cooperation, as both sides look to expand their economic partnership.PM Modi will then travel to Bishkek to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. There, he will highlight India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity, while holding bilateral meetings with leaders of SCO member states on the sidelines. His visit will also include the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games.
PM Modi’s Uzbekistan visit: Strategic partnership in focus
PM Modi will begin his visit in Tashkent, where he will hold delegation-level talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on August 29 and 30. The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Mirziyoyev and will be PM Modi’s fourth visit to Uzbekistan and his second bilateral visit to the country, according to MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George.The two leaders are expected to review the full spectrum of India-Uzbekistan cooperation and discuss ways to further strengthen their strategic partnership.The talks will cover trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties.PM Modi and Mirziyoyev are also expected to discuss ways to advance their respective long-term development visions, Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030.
Trade, critical minerals and healthcare on agenda
Economic cooperation is expected to be a key component of PM Modi’s discussions in Tashkent, with the two sides looking to identify new avenues for trade, investment and business-to-business engagement.India is among Uzbekistan’s top 10 trading partners, while bilateral trade and investments together are close to USD 1 billion.Critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information technology and technology are among the areas where the two countries already have cooperation and are expected to explore further opportunities.“We have wide-ranging cooperation in the fields of critical minerals, pharma, education, information technology, and the health sector,” George said.The two sides are also expected to explore cooperation in space, technology and other emerging sectors as they seek to expand the economic relationship beyond traditional areas.
16,000 Indian students, 4 university campuses
Education and people-to-people ties are another important component of the India-Uzbekistan relationship.George said more than 16,000 Indian students are currently studying in Uzbekistan, while four Indian university campuses have been established in the country.Major Indian investments in Uzbekistan are spread across pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components and education, reflecting the expanding commercial relationship between the two countries.
PM Modi to visit Shastri Memorial, Gandhi Centre
PM Modi’s Tashkent programme will also include engagements highlighting India’s historical and cultural links with Uzbekistan.The Prime Minister is expected to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent as well as the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.His programme will also include a banquet lunch hosted by Mirziyoyev in his honour.“The Prime Minister’s visit will reaffirm the close, multi-faceted, and growing strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan,” George said.
From Tashkent to Bishkek for SCO Summit
After his bilateral engagements in Uzbekistan, PM Modi will travel to Bishkek from August 31 to September 1 at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to attend the 26th SCO Summit.“The Prime Minister will travel to Bishkek from 31st August to 1st September” George said.The summit comes as the SCO marks the 25th anniversary of its establishment. India became a full member of the grouping in 2017, after holding observer status since 2005.
Security, connectivity and opportunity to guide India’s SCO agenda
At the Bishkek summit, PM Modi will address SCO leaders and underline India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of SCO member states on the sidelines of the summit.The SCO currently comprises 10 member states, along with dialogue partners and observers. The grouping was originally established to address the three “evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism, but its cooperation has since expanded into a wider range of regional issues.India has previously chaired the SCO Council of Heads of Government in 2020 and the SCO Council of Heads of State during 2022-23.India’s engagement with the grouping has been guided by the SECURE framework articulated by PM Modi at the 2018 SCO Summit. SECURE stands for “Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environment”.
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More recently, at the SCO Summit in China’s Tianjin, PM Modi highlighted security, connectivity and opportunity as three key elements of India’s engagement with the organisation.
World Nomad Games on PM Modi’s Bishkek itinerary
PM Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games in Bishkek, which celebrates the cultural heritage of Central Asia.The four-day visit will give India an opportunity to simultaneously deepen its bilateral relationship with Uzbekistan, strengthen ties with Kyrgyzstan and advance its wider engagement with Central Asia through the SCO.
