India and Uzbekistan have had strong and close bilateral relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992.
In recent years, the relationship has intensified with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Tashkent in 2015 and 2016.
The bilateral relations between the two nations are cemented over political and strategic issues, defense and security, energy, investment, trade, agriculture, education, and people-to-people contacts.
Diplomatic Relations:
India and Uzbekistan have set up a National Coordination Committee to oversee mutually agreed projects.
The committee reviews projects through grant assistance, Line of Credit, and other aspects like trade, education, and investment.
On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uzbekistan participated along with other nations at the first India-Central Asia virtual summit in Jan 2022.
Bilateral Trade:
During the past years, the bilateral trade of India with Uzbekistan has reached USD 442 million. The major items of India’s export are pharmaceutical products, mechanical equipment, vehicle parts, and services. On the other hand, India’s imports consist mainly of fruit and vegetable products, fertilizers, juice products and extracts, lubricants, and services.
Fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
India lifted the ban on exporting essential medicines to fight the pandemic and delivered over 660,000 Covishield vaccines to Uzbekistan. Accordingly, Uzbekistan helped India fight against the second wave of COVID-19 and provided 100 Oxygen concentrators and 2000 injections of remdesivir.
The current open policy of Uzbekistan focuses on a healthy political climate and favorable conditions for mutually beneficial cooperation in the region.
India and Uzbekistan cooperate in the struggle against international terrorism, religious extremism, organized crime, and drug trafficking.
Uzbekistan supported the membership of India in the UN Security Council.