Modi, Uzbek President talk long-term uranium supply, set $5 billion trade target

“This year marks the 15th anniversary of our Strategic Partnership. On this special occasion, we have decided to elevate our relationship to the status of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Today, we have prepared an ambitious agenda to advance this new phase of our partnership with rapid momentum and concrete results,” he said.

PM Narendra Modi receives the ‘Order of Highest Friendship’ from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in Tashkent, Sunday. (PTI)

Mirziyoyev said his country is determined to boost ties with India in diverse sectors. “We are aiming to advance cooperation in sectors such as energy, culture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, jewellery and agriculture.”

“We will prepare roadmaps for each of these sectors; specific teams from India will visit here, and our teams will travel to India, enabling us to clearly define our objectives in these fields,” he said.

In his remarks, Modi said, “We will also establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium.”

Later, Siby George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “Positive discussions have happened on long-term arrangement of supply of uranium to India. We are closing in on the signing of an agreement very shortly.” New Delhi has been looking to procure uranium from Uzbekistan civilian nuclear power programme.

The two sides also set a target of USD 5 billion bilateral trade by 2030. India is among the top 10 trading partners of Uzbekistan. Bilateral trade in 2025-26 stood close to USD 1 billion.

“Our bilateral trade has crossed the one-billion-dollar mark. We have now set a target of five billion dollars in trade by 2030. To achieve this, we will move forward systematically on issues related to market access, connectivity, banking and payments,” Modi said.

On defence and security ties, he said, “The close defence and security cooperation between our nations reflects our deep mutual trust. In the future, we will promote direct linkages, co-production, and co-development between the defence industries of both countries.”

On terrorism, he said, “We believe that terrorism, extremism and separatism pose serious challenges to the entire region. Maintaining a policy of zero tolerance against these threats has been, and will continue to be, our shared resolve.”

According to the joint statement, the leaders “unequivocally condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, reiterated zero tolerance approach to terrorism and rejected justification of terrorism on any ground whatsoever”. “Leaders called for concerted actions against terrorist entities and for disrupting terrorism financing networks, safe havens and infrastructure. Leaders stressed that those responsible for terrorism should be held accountable and their perpetrators, their backers, facilitators and affiliates should be brought to justice,” it stated.

“The Leaders expressed satisfaction with the activities of the Joint Working Group on Military Cooperation, wherein new avenues of cooperation in the defence industrial domain are being explored. They welcomed the successful conduct of the Uzbekistan-India Joint Military Exercise ‘Dustlik’, the latest of which was held in Namangan Region, Uzbekistan, in April 2026,” it said.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The talks focussed on expanding cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, infrastructure, critical minerals, mining, defence and security, innovation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, health, information technology, digital public infrastructure including UPI and education, among others.”

“Both leaders witnessed the exchange of several MoUs and agreements covering a wide range of areas, including mining, culture, education, tourism, ayurveda, among others. A Letter of Intent for the restoration and conservation of the Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa in Uzbekistan was also agreed upon,” he said. A total of 11 pacts were signed during the visit.

Besides 11 pacts, announcement of a grant of USD 1 million for afforestation in the Aral Sea region, 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Hindi Language Scholarships and a ICCR Sanskrit Chair at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies were made.