India and Uzbekistan elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Sunday following the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Marking the 15th anniversary of the strategic partnership, the two nations set a target of $5 billion in annual trade by 2030, agreed to establish a framework for long-term supply of uranium from Uzbekistan to India, and more.
India and Uzbekistan set a bilateral trade target of $5 billion annually by 2030, up from the present of over $1 billion.
“Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia and is at the heart of India’s engagement in the region,” PM Modi said. Speaking about trade and investment, the Prime Minister said that matters including market access, connectivity, banking, and payment systems will be addressed in a structured manner.
The leaders announced the elevation of strategic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to reflect the expanding scope and depth of bilateral cooperation. “Positive discussions have happened on a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium to India. We are close to signing an agreement very shortly. The level of bilateral ties between the two countries has been raised to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which, as I mentioned, includes a Foreign Minister-level Coordination Group and raising the level of the Joint Commission Meeting, or the Intergovernmental Commission, from the Secretary level to the Ministerial level,” George noted.
The discussions between the two leaders focused on trade, investment, infrastructure, digital public infrastructure (including UPI), information technology, critical minerals, defence and security, education, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, according to news agency PTI.
