Modi's Uzbekistan visit may turn India ties into trade and security gains

Narendra Modi will visit Uzbekistan this week for talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The trip is expected to test whether existing agreements can deliver gains in trade, connectivity and security.Stock photo used for illustrationPrime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Uzbekistan later this week could give fresh momentum to ties between the two countries by turning existing agreements into concrete results in trade, investment, connectivity and security, a former Uzbek envoy has said.Modi will visit Tashkent from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, according to the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday. It will be Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan. During the trip, the two leaders will hold delegation-level talks and are expected to review cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties.Abdusamat Khaydarov, former ambassador and director of the Diplomatic Academy at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy under Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told PTI over email that the visit could "open a new chapter" in bilateral relations. He said the two countries had built a "solid legal and institutional framework" and a foundation of mutual trust over the past decade, but added that the partnership now needed greater practical substance."With bilateral trade reaching USD 1.3 billion in 2025, the current level of trade still falls short of the potential of the two countries," Khaydarov said. He said an important outcome of Modi's visit could be the creation of concrete mechanisms to meet the agreed goal of doubling bilateral trade over the next three years. He said pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture, food processing, information technology and digital services could get particular attention as sectors with room for stronger commercial cooperation. Khaydarov also said Indian investors could play a bigger role in Uzbekistan as Tashkent expands investment cooperation with leading countries and companies looking to enter the Central Asian market. "Uzbekistan, for its part, has considerable opportunities and is interested in creating favourable conditions for Indian investment and the implementation of long-term investment projects," he said. He added that cooperation in healthcare, education, human capital development, science and technology, and social projects could also gain fresh momentum during the visit.He said India was already involved in development projects in Uzbekistan, including in healthcare and education, and that the next step could be larger joint initiatives aimed at human capital development and improving quality of life. On connectivity, he said the International North-South Transport Corridor could play a bigger role in linking India with Central Asia, although its full use remained dependent on the normalisation of the international situation surrounding Iran. The International North-South Transport Corridor is a 7,200-kilometre multi-modal network of ship, rail and road routes designed to move freight between India, Iran, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. Iran's Chabahar Port is a key maritime gateway for the corridor, allowing Indian trade to reach Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. However, New Delhi's strategic operations at the port face severe uncertainty following the expiry of the US sanctions waiver in April 2026 and the launch of a war by the US and Israel against Iran. "In the longer term, Chabahar could become one of the practical channels connecting Central Asia with the Indian Ocean and the markets of South Asia," Khaydarov said.Khaydarov also suggested developing more transport links between Central and South Asia, with Uzbekistan's Termez and its International Trade Centre potentially serving as a hub for wider trade engagement, including with Indian businesses. He said security cooperation would remain another important pillar of ties, with joint military exercises, personnel training and counter-terrorism already providing a base for deeper engagement. Potential areas, he said, include cyber security, military education and training, exchange of expertise, countering transnational threats and the use of advanced technologies."The principal outcome of the visit, in my view, should not be measured by the number of documents signed, but rather by the establishment of concrete mechanisms for implementing agreements already reached," Khaydarov said. He added that logistical constraints, including the absence of a direct overland route between the two countries, could partly be offset by greater cooperation in digital services, information technology and biotechnology. A more substantive partnership in trade, investment, joint production, security and connectivity could also make India-Uzbekistan ties an important element of broader connectivity between Central and South Asia, he said.The MEA said Uzbekistan was actively developing its rare earth industry to move beyond raw material exports and create higher-value products through new projects, technical development and international partnerships. The ministry also highlighted deep people-to-people ties, noting that more than 16,000 Indian students are studying in Uzbekistan and that four Indian university campuses are operating there. During the visit, Modi is also expected to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. From Tashkent, he will travel to Kyrgyzstan to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit from August 31 to September 1, rounding off a visit expected to focus on turning existing India-Uzbekistan cooperation into practical outcomes.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 28, 2026 18:22 IST